Hope and inclusion in reducing juvenile offender recidivism

Reducing Recidivism by Juvenile Offenders

Recidivism

Reducing Recidivism by Juvenile Offenders: The Power of Hope and Inclusion

It is important to begin this discussion by recognizing the fact that minority youth are disproportionately represented throughout juvenile justice systems in nearly every state in the nation. Disproportionate minority contact (DMC) in juvenile justice occurs when minority youth come into contact with the system at a higher rate than their white counterparts. African-Americans, Hispanics, Asians, Pacific Islanders and Native Americans comprise a combined one-third of the nation's youth population. Yet they account for over two-thirds of the youth in secure juvenile facilities (Armour & Hammond, 2009).

Armour and Hammond (2009) point to an assortment of explanations that have emerged for the disproportionate treatment of minorities including jurisdictional issues, certain police practices, punitive juvenile crime legislation of the 1990s, and perceived racial bias in the system. Often the outcome of criminal allegations can depend on the jurisdiction in which the youth is processed according to the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). Research indicates cases adjudicated in urban areas are more likely to result in harsher results than similar cases adjudicated in non-urban areas. Another contributing factor may come from the geographic effect. Minority populations are concentrated in urban areas; this may work to over represent minorities in the juvenile justice system. Another contributing factor related to urbanization is the location and visibility of minority youth crimes. According to the OJJDP white youth tend to use and sell drugs in their homes while minority youth are more likely to commit these illegal activities on street corners or in public neighborhood gathering spots. Police practices that target low-income urban neighborhoods and use group arrest procedures also can contribute to disproportionate minority contact. Research shows African-American youth are arrested at twice the rate of their white peers for drug crimes. One might jump to the conclusion that minority youth simply commit more crimes, however studies show white youth are just as likely, or even more so, to be involved with illegal drug use and sales.

Conclusion

Dealing with recidivism without speaking to the overall problems in our society that create the criminal issues initially is reminiscent of the little Dutch boy with his finger in the dike. Solutions to this problem should be imposed long before they get to the juvenile justice system. That being said, I believe the single most important thing we can offer these teens is hope ad a vision of a better future. As stated I the discussion this may be accomplished through a variety of methods. If society does not value these children (for that is what they are) and make a place for them at the table, what can we expect but frustration, anger, and rebellion?