Running Head: Juvenile Justice

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INTROUCTION

Juvenile delinquents should have more options for sentencing rather than going directly
to juvenile. These adolescents should be able to participate in juvenile prevention programs and
juvenile offenders should be offered intervention programs. African Americans are unjustly
targeted for the juvenile court system and social workers need to intervene and break down
barriers. Social workers need to be more present in the juvenile system to save young lives from
entering a downward spiral of crime. Behaviors that fall outside the norm, such as aggression in
youth can lead to court system involvement. A study suggested that youth who displayed this
aggressive characteristic gradually decreased their behavior over time. (Fite, Colder, Lochman,
and Wells (2008) ) found that changes in proactive and reactive aggression were unrelated to
levels of delinquency from 5th to 9th grades. This suggests that an adolescent is capable of
change; therefore it may be premature to resort to juvenile sentencing as the primary treatment
modality for youth in these earlier age and grade levels.

POPULATION DEMOGRAPHICS
The article locating the school to pipeline stated, Students of color-who are far more
likely than their white peers to be suspended, expelled, or arrested for the same kind of conduct
at school (Russell J. Skiba). White students can get away with a lot more than black students
just because of their stereotypical views. Some researchers labeled aggression an anti-social
personality disorder in which African Americans carry from elementary throughout adulthood.

Running Head: Juvenile Justice

Thomas 2
This disorder is argued to be inherent within the genetic makeup of the African American race as
a whole.
HISTORY AND IMPACT
Massachusetts legally adopted juvenile probation in 1878. Juvenile probation meant that
juveniles could close their case as long as they dont repeat the same crime while on a
probationary period. (Clark M. Peterson, 2011). One era was marked by a male preference in
handling the majority of delinquents. Sex caused a division of labor where male probation
officers would handle male delinquents and women probation officers would handle female
delinquents. Male social workers disproportionately held the majority of positions in the juvenile
system unlike the present day proportion. The general stereotypes for social workers in
corrections were that woman possessed masculine qualities, and men carried a feminine vibe. In
1871, a researcher concluded a general consensus of the views of sex by noting, They are
unscientific, non-analytical, and anti-intellectual. They are female do-gooders or male misfits
from other occupations. The women are basically aggressive and unfeminine and the men are
scared and effeminate (Clark M. Peterson, 2011). The historical characteristics of this male
dominated field may be the cause for the lack of empathy in the present correctional system
today. During the 1920s and 1930s efforts were put in place that supports my view of providing
the youth with different options in comparison of direct juvenile sentence. Social workers
adopted a psychodynamic approach to juvenile delinquents. As social workers attempted to
prevent delinquency by starting up child delinquency centers, they became unfocused (Clark M.
Peterson). Instead of preventing delinquents their efforts switched to figuring out the mental

Running Head: Juvenile Justice

Thomas 3
health problems, which resulted in the labeled failure of delinquent prevention. Throughout the
1950s and 1960s social workers virtually disappeared from the correctional system altogether
and changed their focus to community base services (Clark M. Peterson).

Was it identified the same as it is today? How is the historical and current
definition different?
The policies and unjust police conduct still exists today as it did in the past. During the
middle nineteenth century police had the right of a secret authoritative power in which they
could determine to place youth in detention (David Wolcott, 2001). Just like in the past history of
juvenile delinquency, police are still heavily involved in the juvenile detention.
By the late 1910s overcrowding at the Detention home had become severe; some boys had to sleep on
extra mattresses on the floor. More disturbingly, the juvenile Detention home began to refuse admission
because of overcrowding. Then the police had no choice but to hold them in station lock-ups condemned
as unfit ...for prisoners or policeman (David Walcott, 2001)

These young offenders definitely should not have to be subjected to those harsh
conditions. As clearly stated in the quote, these conditions were even considered unfit for
officers. Somehow the police have a monopoly over the juvenile system, these results in abuse
and using their power to take advantage of the defenseless. These practices and behaviors have
existed in the past and still permeate today.

Running Head: Juvenile Justice

Thomas 4
SERVICES AND POLICIES IN PLACE TO ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM AND THE
CHANGE THAT HAPPENED OVER TIME
Today too many young people are sentenced to juvenile detention for minor offenses.
Juvenile detention is structured the same way as a prison; the youth shouldnt be subjected to
those living conditions. There are many more options to change a young individuals life around.
An alternate punishment for juveniles may be boot camp, volunteering, counseling, life skill
courses, anger management, etc. Unlike juvenile detention, these alternatives may foster positive
communication, growth and healthy development. Instead of sending youth directly to juvenile
detention social workers should implement these various options identified above to help
integrate juvenile youth into a more positively structured, and less traumatizing treatment plans.
In Intervention and Prevention Programs for Juvenile Offenders, author Peter Greenwood
wrote about the importance of delinquent prevention programs. States waste billions of dollars a
year in tax papers money in the whole process of getting them locked up. Investing in
successful delinquency-prevention programs can save taxpayers seven to ten dollars for every
dollar invested, primarily in the form of reduced spending on prisons(Peter Greenwood, 2008),
wrote author Greenwood. This extra money could be allocated to other social work programs in
need. Juvenile delinquent prevention programs save money and its beneficial to the economy by
producing more civilized adults.

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Running Head: Juvenile Justice

WHO RECIEVES THESE SERVICES? HOW DOES THIS COMPARE TO MOST

AFFECTED BY THE PROBLEM?
School based programs are the earliest prevention method all throughout an individuals
school history starting with pre-school. The earlier an individual participates in a school based
program decreases the chances of becoming a statistic of school dropout rate, drug use,
delinquency, and anti-social behavior (Greenwood, 2008). Only 5 % of youth out of all who are
eligible participates in receiving the evidence based programs. Successful implementation of
delinquent prevention programs results in saving the youth from going down a negative spiraling
path of crimes. Interestingly programs adopted in the 1990s called DARE, scared straight
(Research what this is), or boot camps were unsuccessful at preventing delinquency and some
even had the effect of raising crime (Greenwood, 2008). More recently researchers have learned
to look at the risk factors of an individual. This also relates person-in-environment, a commonly
used term in Wayne State social work program. Researchers tried to improve parenting
techniques for at risk youth, advocated for more school involvement, and surrounding the
individual with positive peer interaction.

HOW DOES SOCIAL STIGMA, DISCRIMINATION, AND/OR SOCIETAL PREJUDICES

AFFECT THE DEFINITIONS AND POLICY SOLUTIONS?
According to Peterson (2011) juveniles are considered one of the most vulnerable and
oppressed groups. Surprisingly, social workers are not as involved in the juvenile delinquent
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Running Head: Juvenile Justice

system as many would assume. The youth are the most underrepresented population because
there are not enough professionals engaging in social justice on their behalf to ensure their voices
and opinions are heard helping them voice their opinions. A social worker main goal is to
represent the rights of the oppressed and help out an individual, group, or population to the best
of their ability. In the earliest history of the development of juvenile justice system and juvenile
probation programs, social workers felt that their involvement with juveniles was unnecessary. It
was believed that The skills social workers brought to the table were in conflict with, did not
equate to the expectations of the government (Peterson, 2011)
Michele Benedetto Neitz (2011) observed a case in which a fourteen year old boy was
unfairly sentenced to twelve months in juvenile detention. This boy name tommy gave up all of
his rights and pled guilty because his mother failed to hire an attorney. The crime of breaking
into cars and stealing change would not result in the same harsh sentence given to Tommy in
adult court. Jurisdiction was held in Pennsylvania, by the Judge Ciavarella in Luzerne County.
Suspicions started to arise because Judge Ciavarella was sentencing one in four youth to juvenile
detention, compared to the national rate of one in ten (Neitz, M.B.(2011). Finally in 2009, Judge
Ciaverella was sentenced to eighty seven months in prison for receiving millions of dollars from
private detention to lock delinquents up. (Neitz, M.B.(2011). This judge in particular unfairly
discriminated against youth who committed minor offenses in order to benefit financially.

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PERSONAL BELIEFS

Running Head: Juvenile Justice

As a taxpayer I do not believe it is fair that the police and judges involved in destroying
the lives of youths for financial gain. These adolescents are going to make mistakes regardless,
so they should at least have one warning and a treatment plan. I believe the problems start in the
home first. Children are products of learned behavior, so whether its parents, peers, or other
family members, these people will have somewhat of an influence (Hester, P. A. 2004). This is
one of the main reasons why I oppose juvenile detention. I believe that the blame should be
placed more on the parents and their environment. Some parents are failing to instill their kids
with morals, values, guidance, and a sense of security. I strongly believe that putting youth in
detention centers only sets them up for a lifelong criminal history. In my opinion, if a youth is
sentenced to a year in juvenile detention that individual may commit a crime again once when
hes released. Some juvenile delinquents dont know how to function in the real world after
theyre released. This is why I strongly oppose sending youth to juvenile because it robs them of
their youth. Intervention programs are more effective because delinquents can figure the source
of their behavior and learn how to redirect their energy into positive behaviors.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN JUVENILE JUSTICE AND SOCIAL WORK VALUES

AND ETHICS
Juveniles can be categorized under the age group of adolescents; Therefore NASW
standards for the practice of social work with adolescents should be applied to the Juvenile
system. Social workers are trained have the skills and knowledge to help at risk adolescents
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Running Head: Juvenile Justice

reverse their life into a positive direction. The second standard in the code of ethics (NASW
Code of Ethics, 1993) related to adolescents describes social workers as having the ability to
help, asses their weakness, and advocate for the needed resources of an Individual. This means
social workers are responsible for improving an adolescent life and in this case help at risk youth
make positive changes in their life. Social workers should have more presence in being apart of
the juvenile court system, in order to prevent unjust actions from authorities already involved.
Some researchers labeled aggression as an anti-social personality disorder in
which African Americans carry from elementary throughout adulthood. (Peterson, 2011) This
disorder is inherent within the genetic makeup of the African American race as a whole. Based
off this evidence, delinquent youths should be offered educational classes or life skill courses to
learn how to channel their anger properly. An extensive research was conducted over a series of
years. The findings were that if someone has never entered the juvenile system before the age of
fourteen, then they had the greatest chances being a juvenile delinquent which was fourteen
percent. The amount was four percent. Each year, up until the age of fourteen participants
experienced a steadfast decline to where only one individual entered the juvenile system out of
2,281 participants. This proves that juvenile detention increases likelihood for a criminal history.

Bibliography

Running Head: Juvenile Justice

Fite, Colder, Lochman, and Wells. (2008, February). The Relation Between Childhood Proactive
and Reactive Aggression and Substance Use Initiation. Journal of Abnormal Child
Psychology. Volume 36, Issue 2 pp 261-271.
Greenwood, P. (2008). Prevention and Intervention Programs for Juvenile Offenders. Future Of
Children, 18(2), 185-210.
Hester, P. A. (2004). Lessons Learned From Research on Early Intervention: What Teachers Can
Do to Prevent Children's Behavior Problems. Preventing School Failure, 49(1), 5-10.
Neitz, M. B. (2011), A Unique Bench, A Common Code: Evaluating Judicial Ethics in Juvenile
Court. Juvenile and Family Court Journal, 62: 3253.
Peters, C. M. (2011). Social Work and Juvenile Probation: Historical Tensions and Contemporary
Convergences. Social Work, 56(4), 355-365.
Skiba, Russell J. (2008, June 6). Retrieved October 28,2013 from https://www.aclu.org/racialjustice/school-prison-pipeline-fact-sheet-pdf
Social Work with adolescents group. (1993, April). NASW standards for the practice of social
work with adolescents . Socialworkers.org. Retrieved 2013, October 28 from
http://www.socialworkers.org/practice/standards/sw_adolescents.asp
Walcott, D. (2001). The cop will get you: the police and discretionary juvenile justice, 18901940. Journal of Social History, 349-371.