This article examines the effectiveness of juvenile correctional facilities, which is a major issue in correctional management. This evaluation is based on two journal articles based on studies by researchers on this topic. The paper evaluates the reliability and validity of the results of these studies, their main points, and whether they reach the same conclusion.
¶ … Corrections:
One of the most significant issues in correctional management is the effectiveness of juvenile correctional facilities. Generally, juvenile correctional facilities were established to provide effective treatment and rehabilitation of juveniles. In the past few years, the ability of these facilities to achieve their primary objective has been an issue of major concern to correctional administrators and management. Actually, correctional administrators currently agree that effective treatment and rehabilitation of juveniles will not be achievable in an environment that does not guarantee the security and safety of juveniles being served. As a major issue in correctional management and administration, the importance of this issue has been the subject of increased study by various researchers. Examples of these research initiatives include studies by Darryl Olson and Michael Baglivio as well as Patrick Bayer and David E. Pozen's work.
The Researches:
Research work by Patrick Bayer and David E. Pozen focuses on examining the effectiveness of juvenile correctional facilities in light of public management vs. private management. The study mainly explores the effects of the facility management type in promoting the effective treatment and rehabilitation of juveniles. This is carried out through exploring the impact of facility management type on outcomes, recidivism, and costs (Bayer & Pozen, 2004, p.549). The types of facility management examined in this research include private nonprofit, private for-profit, public county-operated, and public state-operated management of juvenile correctional facilities.
On the other hand, Darryl Olson and Michael Baglivio examine the effectiveness of juvenile correctional facilities in light of the most appropriate environment for effective treatment and rehabilitation of youths being served. This study is conducted based on the general agreement by correctional administrators that the effectiveness of a juvenile correctional facility is dependent on the establishment of an environment that provides safety and security. The researchers imply that the effectiveness of these facilities is not achievable without creating a safe residential environment for juvenile criminals.
The similarity between these studies is their use of the Florida Experience as the basis of the research. The research work and findings are based on data on juvenile offenders from Florida's juvenile correctional facilities. The authors have used detailed information from the juvenile offenders released from these facilities. Therefore, the Florida Experience is the basis of the two studies on the effectiveness of juvenile correctional facilities, especially with regards to their ability to promote effective treatment and rehabilitation of juvenile offenders.
Reliability and Validity of the Studies' Findings:
The two studies have basically relied on comprehensive information on personal characteristics of juveniles in Florida's juvenile correctional facilities. Bayer and Pozen have ensured that their findings are reliable and valid by conducting non-random allotment of individuals to facilities much better than previous researches. This non-random assignment has been accompanied by evaluation of the impact of facility type management on recidivism, outcomes, and costs.
In contrast, Olson and Baglivio (2013) have ensured the reliability and validity of the findings of their study by verifying self-reported data through program reviews and site visits that were carried out by department staff (p.64). The review was carried out to establish the existence of any direct relationship between the use of physical limitation, security level, facility size, and the kind of population being served.
Main Points of Each Article:
Bayer & Pozen conclude that for-profit management has statistical considerable effect on recidivism when evaluated from a year's rate of recidivism and everyday hazard rates. They also argue that for-profit management of juvenile correctional facilities is characterized with lower costs as compared to nonprofit management and state-operated facilities. Based on the findings of a trade-off between for-profit and nonprofit management, short-term savings provided by for-profit facilities as compared to their nonprofit counterparts are reversed in the long-term because of increased rates of recidivism.
Olson & Baglivio focuses on the impact of creating a safe environment on the effectiveness of the juvenile correctional facility. In this case, they examine whether the development of such an environment requires the creation of a relationship between staff and juvenile offenders based on mutual respect and trust. They argue that the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice should continue developing a restraint-free environment for juvenile offenders in order to promote the effectiveness of these facilities.
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