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Treatment Technologies in Criminal Justice

Brandy Adib-Razavi

Florida Gulf Coast University

Juvenile Justice – CJJ 4015

Professor Katie M. Baker

November 9, 2021
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Abstract
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The criminal justice system and the mental healthcare system has had many varying ideas

over the years about how to treat juvenile delinquents. Today the technologies used in treatment

of juveniles have shifted from punishment to rehabilitation. Many states across America

nowadays are seeing far less recidivism from youths who participated in treatments that utilize

cognitive behavior therapy, guided group interaction, positive peer culture or substance abuse

intervention.

Positive Peer Culture (PPC) is the foundation in which young people can learn how to

care for each other and speak in a positive manner towards their group members and themselves.

“The main philosophy of PPC is to ‘turn around’ the negative peer culture and to mobilize the

power of the peer group in a positive way.” (Bartollas & Miller, 2016, p.267). Typically, these

groups meet five times a week for about ninety minutes each time and discuss things in a

positive way as opposed to judging one another. Through Positive Peer Culture the goal through

this process is to get youths to care about their peers and to turn negative remarks to positive

ones. For example, instead of them using negative words like “unintelligent” or “helpless” they

speak positively and learn to use words such as “improving” or “winning” about other group

members. This type of treatment introduces a raw openness to the group members and builds

trust between everyone. In PPC treatment the youths within the group are typically grouped

together based on age, sex and maturity. Also, the group is involved with all decision making for

their peers even if the administration has the final say. For example, if a youth is looking to be

released or permitted a home visit the group will get to have an opinion on it. This positive

reinforcement and accountability to the group has been quite impactful to those who get this

treatment.
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Cognitive behavior therapy with juvenile offenders aim to deal with the choices, thoughts

and meaning systems often linked with antisocial behavior and deviant life choices. Bartollas &

Miller wrote about how cognitive behavior therapy, “…. uses a training approach to teach new

skills in areas where offenders showed deficits, such as generating alternative solutions, rather

than reacting on first impulse; interpersonal problems awareness; opening up and listening to

other perspectives; evaluating consequences; resisting; soliciting feedback; taking the person’s

well-being into account; and deciding on the most beneficial course of action.” (2016). The type

of therapists used in kind of treatment for juvenile offenders often act as teachers and use a

classroom setting during sessions. In the classroom setting the therapist may utilize different

exercises such as rehearsal, role-play, homework, or feedback. The goal of this type of treatment

is to help juveniles confront problems in regular, everyday life. This treatment is trying to give

the youth a set of skills to help them gain jobs and achiever goals. The treatment aims to develop

skills in that person and to help them realize unrealistic thinking patterns. The awareness that can

develop through cognitive behavior therapy can help reduce or eliminate troublesome activities.