Treatment for Juveniles

Running head : TREATMENT FOR JUVENILES

Treatment for Juveniles

Client 's Name

University Affiliation

Treatment for Juveniles

Introduction

Juvenile offenders compose a considerable chunk of criminal offenders confined in various institutions all over the United States (Juvenile offenders , 2003 . In fact , reports show that the number of juvenile offenders has risen over the past decade (Juvenile offenders , 2003 . Two Corrections Compendium surveys conducted ten years apart show that the number of juvenile offenders increased by an average of 11 .5 percent over the said period (Juvenile offenders , 2003 p

The determination of the determining age for persons to be classified as an adult or juvenile offender vary from state to state (Juvenile offenders , 2003 . An accused could execute a waiver to adult court , and the age limit for such a waiver similarly varies in different states (Juvenile offenders , 2003 . For example , in Kansas , the age limit could go for as low as ten years of age , while Illinois has set the bar at seventeen tears (Juvenile offenders , 2003

Considering the rising number of juvenile offenders each year , there is likewise an observed increase in the number of secure juvenile facilities in the country (Juvenile offenders , 2003 . From 95 secure juvenile facilities in 1993 , there are now 169 such facilities based on 22 U .S . reporting systems (Juvenile offenders , 2003

Characteristics of Good Juvenile Facilities

Good juvenile facilities offer various programs for juvenile offenders including academic courses , mental health counseling , life skills training , vocational training , anger management classes , substance abuse education , and religious programs (Juvenile offenders , 2003 . There are also newly integrated programs designed to help juvenile offenders reintegrate themselves in society , in to allow them smoother transition from detention to the outside world (Baltodano , Platt Roberts , 2005 . These programs include sexual health education expressive art therapy , and restorative justice practices (Juvenile offenders , 2003

Issues in Juvenile Treatment

One vital issue in juvenile treatment concerns aftercare programs . Such programs are vital for they serve as the means by which the treated juvenile offender can slowly reintegrate themselves into the community The primary goal of aftercare programs is to , Reduce the likelihood of recidivism and to foster success in the community (Baltodano et al 2005 ) In Baltodano et al (2005 , a study to determine the juveniles perception of aftercare programs . Particular focus was given on the effectiveness of the transition process as perceived by the youth themselves

Research Design and Data Analysis

The Baltodano et al (2005 ) study utilized the survey as the primary data collection method . The survey involved 120 youth in a chosen urban county detention facility . The participants were asked what their opinions were on issues such as , The effectiveness of transition services , and characteristics of programs that they felt were beneficial (Baltodano et al , 2005

The findings of the study revealed that there were no significant relationships that existed between the number of times of previous detention , the youth 's gender , special education status , or the difficulty that the youth encountered with returning to school Nevertheless , there was a...