Criminal Justice - Essay Example

Criminal Justice This proposal has utilized the latest crime statistics available in stating the magnitude of the juvenile crime problem, and it will show the need for responsible intervention. A program has been designed to address the needs of the juvenile at risk community. In so doing we have adhered to the provisions of Title IV of the Federal Youth Violence Act of 1996. Additionally we have presented a persuasive dialogue on why the program is necessary, and how it will impact the beneficiaries and the community. The program (model) we have chosen has exhibited considerable levels of success in other localities. Therefore with the proper implementation and monitoring in place, we can project similar successes. 1 2 Criminal Justice Federal Bureau of Investigation figures on persons under 18 years of age arrested in the United States reflect a marginal (13%) decline from 1998 to 2002. Additionally in the 33 indices which are used to categorize criminal activity, the FBI figures reflect an appreciable decline in 27 indices, an increase in 5 areas and zero change in only one indices. The per capita crime rate for persons under 18 years of age in the United States decreased by 1% from 1998 to 2002.1 Albeit we have not yet turned the corner in ameliorating juvenile crime; these numbers represent light at the end of a long dark tunnel. For instance, on a national level From 1988 to 1992, the number of juveniles involved in aggravated assault increased 80 per cent to 77,900; the number involved in robberies went up 52 percent to 32,900, and the number involved in rapes rose 27 per cent.2 In the FBI figures presented in this proposal covering the period from 1998 – 2002, aggravated assault declined to 61,600 in 2002, or 21% since 1992. Also robberies declined to 24,500 in 2002, or25% from 1992. Although we are witnessing a downturn in the aggregate numbers, now is not the time to become complacent or satisfied with this trend. Of the 2, 261,000 arrests in 2002, 92,160 were violent crimes, of which 1,360 were murders, 4,720 were forcible rapes and 61,600 were aggravated assault.3 Crime has seriously affected teenagers’ lives, especially those who live in neighborhoods seriously hurt by crime, drugs and gangs. The effects are insidious and long-standing. Reports of juvenile crime dropping are of little consequence in light of the coming demographic surge of juveniles in their crime prone years from dysfunctional families. “How to deal with the Youth Crime Wave,” is an article written by professor John J. DiIulio Jr., in The Weekly Standard, where he offers this insight on juveniles: 3 “Growing numbers of young people, often from broken homes or so-called dysfunctional families are committing murder, rape, robbery, kidnapping, and other violent acts. These emotionally damaged young people, growing up without faith, fathers, or families, often are the products of sexual or physical abuse. They live in an aimless and violent present; have no sense of the past and no hope for the future; and act, often ruthlessly, to gratify whatever urges or desires drive them at the moment. They commit unspeakable brutal crimes against other people; and their lack of remorse is shocking. They are “urban super predators.” They are the ultimate urban nightmare and their numbers are growing.”4 It is obvious that the American communities at large has reached a saturation point on their perceived levels of safety and feel the authorities are not doing enough to permanently remove violent juveniles from the streets. Many people feel that kids are astutely aware of the systems constraints and perimeters, and they exploit the systems shortcomings to their advantage. Polls show that Americans have openly expressed their displeasure with the current system: 49 percent believe that rehabilitation programs for juveniles are not successful, 52 percent believe the punishments juveniles receive should be the same as adults, and 83 percent think juveniles who commit two or more crimes should receive the same sentencing as adults.5 It is understandable that most Americans are now fed up and fearful. However, we should be careful, not to throw the baby out with the bath water. We must not forget that we are dealing with children. And as a responsible civilized society it is our duty as well as our individual responsibility to seek out socially responsible solutions to ameliorate this national tragedy. The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse reports that the juvenile criminal justice system is straddled with an annual expenditure of 14.4 billion dollars. CASA also reports that four out of every five juveniles who wind up in the state juvenile justice systems are under the influence of alcohol or drugs while committing their crimes, yet only 3.6 percent receive help for their problem.6 4 For many years there was little scientific evidence that violence prevention strategies were effective. Indeed researchers found that many ill-conceived approaches to juvenile delinquency were ineffective leading to the cynical conclusion that “nothing works”. Such a pessimistic view is no longer tenable. Scientific reviews of the research literature have found that juvenile violence can be prevented and juvenile offenders can be rehabilitated.”7 Our organization currently has two types of programs which we operate: (1) Family Therapy Program: We have found it to be effective with delinquent youth. Aspects of the program include. (A) Multisystemic Therapy-has been repeatedly demonstrated to be a cost-effective treatment for high risk or delinquent children and their families.(B) Conduct of Controlled outcome studies-Multisystemic therapy has proven to be superior to standard treatments for juvenile offenders, inner city at risk youth, child abusive families, and other traditionally difficult populations. (2) School based program-A Meta analysis of 221 studies involving nearly 56,000 students found unequivocal evidence that school based interventions reduce aggressive behavior at school. Based on the Meta study, we decided on the type of program which lent itself to our proactive intervention style. (A) Social competence Program (1) Lesson Plans for instructors to teach students how to resolve peer conflicts. (a) Students learn communication skills such as how to deflect criticism and assert their opinions in a non-provocative manner, and how to listen and respond respectfully to others. (b) Role Play-they participate applying the learned skills in either role play or demonstration exercises. (c) Relaxation Techniques-practice self monitoring, and rehearse step-by-step procedures 5 For thinking through problems. (d) Peer Mediation-involves teaching students how to resolve conflicts between peers. Typically a small group of students are trained to serve as mediators for the student body. When two students have an argument or dispute, they bring their grievance to a pair of mediators who guide them through a standard procedure designed to facilitate a discussion to resolve the conflict. Our present programs are fully operational and we devote considerable time to program fidelity, staff development and information transfers. This proposal focuses on our plan to provide one additional program to our list of of services which will enable us to provide a one-stop comprehensive range of services to our juvenile clientele. Moreover, we have been referring all of our substance abuse inquiries to another agency and this causes a breakdown in continuity. We are confident we can facilitate a comprehensive rehab, if the financial resources are made available. We are herewith requesting funding from the local government to implement this program under the auspices of Title IV Federal Youth Violence Prevention Act of 1996 (Section 405). Our request is in the amount of one hundred thousand dollars per annum. Approval of this funding will enable us to provide each child with a comprehensive assessment of needs, substance abuse treatment and other appropriate services. The need for comprehensive screening and treatment of arrested youth for substance abuse is glaring: A 177 page CASA report revealed that 1.9 million of the 2.4 million juveniles arrested had substance abuse and addiction involvement and only 68,600 juveniles received substance abuse treatment.5 Joseph A. Califano Jr., CASA’s chairman and president said, “We are writing off these young Americans. We are releasing them without attending to their needs for substance abuse treatment and other 6 services, punishing them without providing them with help to get back on track. If Congress, the governors and the presidential candidates are serious about leaving no child behind, we must end the criminal neglect of these children who so desperately need our help”8 Our program objective in the first year of operation is to eliminate the 64, 72, 81, syndrome. Specifically the CASA report reveals that alcohol and substance abuse was implicated in 64 percent of violent offenses. 72 per cent of property offenses and 81 per cent of assaults, vandalism and disorderly conduct. In our locality there were 226 juveniles arrested for violent offenses. It is our objective to target all those who are diagnosed with drug or alcohol levels and treat them for their dependency. We will coordinate closely with the University medical center for both substance analysis and advanced psychological assessments. Additional coordination and juvenile client interface with either or both of our existing programs will augment the rehabilitation of the child. The addition of the substance abuse unit to our group of services will provide the missing link to rehab and eliminate the need to incarcerate and further criminalize yet another child. All of the experts agree that if an illness is left untreated it will only get worse. It is our thesis that if this malady is removed from the lifestyles of these juveniles and they are introduced to additional positive life skills, the community at large will benefit immensely from the outcome. This is not a shortcut, but a method of getting to the root of the problem. We can all reason that it will be more economically feasible to rehabilitate, than to incarcerate. Works Cited Family Services research Center, (1995) Multisystemic Therapy Using Home-based services George Gallup Jr., and Alex Gallup, “Teens Say Youths should be tried as Adults for Serious Crimes,” The Gallup Youth Survey, March 8, 1995. Gottfredson, G. D. and Gottfredson, D. C. (2001), What Schools do to prevent problem behavior and promote safe environments, Journal of Educational and Psychological Consultation, 12, 313 – 344. Howard N. Snyder and Melissa Sickmund, Juvenile offenders and Victims: A National Report, Offices of Juvenile and Delinquent Prevention, United States Department of Justice, August 1985 p.111. John J. DiIulio Jr., “How to deal with the Youth Crime Wave,” The Weekly Standard, September 16, 1996, p30. Snyder, H. Puzzanchera, C., Kang W. (2005) “Easy Access to FBI Arrest Statistics” 1994 – 2002” Online available; http://ojjdp.nejrs.org/ojstatbb/ezauer/ Read More