Youth Justice Problem Identification and Policy-Making Problem

Youth Justice Problem Identification and Policy-Making

Problem Identification:

The issue of members of the youth community in the criminal justice system is one which has given populations great concern. Juvenile crime and delinquency creates an economic and sociological disparity which has far-reaching negative consequences in the society. Statistics show that individuals who become involved in criminal activity in the beginning years of their life will be more likely to develop as career criminals than those who are able to abstain from criminality in their youth. The earlier a person begins committing crimes, the greater the likelihood that they will commit serious and violent crimes later on in their lives.

Sociologists, psychologists, and individuals who are experts regarding criminality and illegal matters have identified certain criteria as heavy indicators that the individual in question will be likely to become involved in crime or not (Ramirez 2008). Individuals who are born and reared in areas with limited socioeconomic resources will be more likely to become involved in crime. Without the resources to support themselves or their families, people become involved in crime either as a means of financial support or in order to escape their real-world existences in a fantasy that crime can elevate you beyond your lowly stature. They also witness family members engaged in legitimate work who are struggling with minimum wage, family members not working who are dependent on government assistance, or family members who are involved in criminality and already making money or achieving a higher social stature within the community. These thus provide incentives for a young person to follow within their footsteps. Narcotics and other drug possession and consumption can increase this exponentially. If a family member or close friend(s) is involved in drug use, then the young person is very likely to become involved as well. Consequentially, in households where there is limited supervision, a relationship with someone engaged with criminal activity, or a relationship with drug use, there should be greater concentration and endeavors to prohibit criminal behaviors.

Policies Created:

Cities which have high youth crime rates have all tried various methods to improve the quality of life of youthful members of the community. One of the most effective methods has been in creating programs where members of the youth community can go rather than wholly depending on the people in their destructive, toxic home lives. Creating after-school programs, youth centers, and youth organizations allows these at-risk teens to have a place where they can go and receive positive influences (Saminsky 2010). Programs have been shown to be most effective when the members of the community who are at risk are reached at a very early age. Head Start, First Five, STARS, and other similar programs have been set up in at-risk communities for children as young as pre-school aged and have had great success. By stressing education, intervention, and behavior modeling from an early age, adults have been able to alter the course of the lives of many young people.