Recidivism among Juvenile Offenders - Annotated Bibliography Example

Annotated Bibliography The rates of recidivism among juvenile offenders has been on the rise and this has generated controversy about the efficacy of prisons and their rehabilitation programs. Young offenders appear to view prison more as an opportunity to receive free food and shelter before going back onto the streets.(De la Torre, 2007) and prison programs have not been successful in reducing the recidivism rates. This study therefore proposes to take up an examination into the present juvenile justice system and its inadequacy in addressing recidivism. Alternative means by which recidivism could be curtailed will also be addressed, with the views of researchers who have put forward such alternative measures. The following are some of the important bibliographic references that will be used in this study: 1. Ashkar, P. J. and Kenny, D. T. (2008). “Views from the inside: Young offenders’ subjective experiences of incarceration.”, International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 52(5), 584-5. This study set out to examine the incarceration experiences of juvenile offenders in a maximum security detention facility. Using phenomenological descriptive methodology, semi structured interviews were carried out with 16 adolescent male detainees and recorded on audio cassettes. The study found that there was inadequate provision of services and rehabilitative programming at these prisons; while the incarceration experience placed detainees in a state of readiness for positive change, it failed to provide them with the necessary skills to actually bring about and sustain this change. This study corroborates the findings of other studies of offenders in juvenile prisons about the inadequacy of rehabilitative measures for offenders, to prevent recidivism. 2. De La Torre, Adela (1997). “Rescuing lives without hope: Smaller classes, sports programs, jobs, church involvement: These are possible solutions to juvenile crime.”, Los Angeles Times:7 (June 18, 1997). This newspaper article is based upon the views of Adela de la Torre, the director of the Mexican American Studies and Research Center at the University of Arizona. The author met with a group of violent juvenile offenders in a group activity area and spoke to them. Based upon his discussions with these delinquents, the author discusses possible causes for juvenile delinquency and the measures that could be applied in addressing the rising incidence of violent crime among young people. This article underscores the importance of addressing societal problems such as poverty and lack of adequate educational and other resources to gainfully engage adolescents. 3. Fader, J. (2009). “Juvenile Justice: A case for transparency and research based accountability”, Changing Lives, Changing Minds, Retrieved March 4, 2009 http://cltlblog.wordpress.com/2009/02/25/juvenile-justice-a-case-for- transparency-and-research-based-accountability/; This article is written by Jamie Fader, Assistant Professor in the School of Criminal Justice at the University of Albany, New York. It discusses the failure of juvenile justice policies and the lack of adequate research in this area. It also points out that the author’s own research has indicated that juvenile offenders have difficulties integrating back into society. This article highlights the importance of more research into the causes of recidivism and measures to address it. 4. Ganter, Noah M.(2001). “Punishment and Family Control: Actor focused blame and attributions for juvenile delinquency”, Phd Dissertation presented at the University of California, Santa Cruz, Retrieved March 21, 2009: http://ezproxy.libproxy.db.erau.edu/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=7259 72521&sid=6&Fmt=2&clientId=17916&RQT=309&VName=PQD The objective of this study was to examine the applicability of theories of juvenile delinquency, specifically to examine punishment and family control orientation as two aspects of social control in the juvenile justice system. The study carried out an internet survey among 225 professionals in the juvenile justice system and 106 university students. The findings in the study showed a surprising result; contrary to one of the hypotheses posed in the study, it was actually non Anglo professionals positioned within the juvenile justice system who were adherents to the deterrence theory, while those outside the system are critics of the deterrence theory. This finding suggests that the juvenile justice system exerts a stronger control over both professionals and young offenders who are of minority status and are poor. 5. Hagell, A. (2002). “The mental health of young offenders - bright futures: working with vulnerable young people”, London: Mental Health Foundation This study set out to explore the role of mental health disorders on juvenile offending. The research was carried out by the Mental Health Foundation , identifying four key groups of young people with emotional and behavioral difficulties as being at risk for offending. The study found that recidivism is more prevalent among young offenders with mental health problems, with young people from ethnic minorities being over represented. 6. Kupchik, Aaron. (2007). “The correctional experiences of youth in adult and juvenile prisons”, Justice Quarterly, 24(2), 247-270. This study examines the experiences of juvenile prisons incarcerated through criminal courts to assess their access to education and treatment/counseling services. 95 respondents from five correctional institutions were the participants in this study; some of the institutions being exclusively juvenile facilities and therefore smaller with greater emphasis accorded to education, training and counseling . The study however, found that juvenile inmates in adult prisons had better access to these facilities, suggesting that juvenile prisons are lacking in constructive measures to prevent recidivism. 7. Lewis D.O, Yeager C.A, Lovely R., Stein A. and Cobham-Porterreal, C.S,(1994). “A clinical follow-up of delinquent males: ignored variables, unmet needs and the perpetuation of violence.”, Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 33: 518-28 This study followed juvenile delinquents, nine years after their discharge from correctional facilities. Follow up clinical interviews were administered to 97 formerly incarcerated male delinquents. Most of these former offenders had been incarcerated for violent crimes and the study found that only 10% had graduated from high school while 30% had received minimal training. This study shows that former offenders are not receiving the support they need to funciton effectively in society after being released from prison. 8. Loeber, and Farrington, D. (1998). “Serious and violent juvenile offenders.”, New York: Sage This book offers a comprehensive discussions by scholars in criminal justice on issues related to violent juvenile offenders who are prone to recidivism. The book highlights the risk factors and also presents prevention programs that could be effective to prevent the incidence of recidivism. 9. Travis, Alan, (1999). “Society: Prison reform: words of hope Racism, suicides, staggeringly low literacy levels-----who’d want to have to tackle those sort of problems? In his first interview since taking the job, the prison service’s new director-general tells Alan Travis how he aims to give inmates a real chance”, The Guardian:6 (April 14, 1999). This article is a report from “the Guardian” and deals with the views of Martin Nurey, who took over as the Director-General of the prison service in 1999, on how the problem of recidivism can be tackled. Nurey does not subscribe to the bleak view of Britain’s overcrowded prisons; he believes that since security at the prisons has improved, preventing recidivism is more important and this requires a drive to build constructive regimes such as improving literacy among inmates. This view corroborates the findings in later studies on the incarceration experiences of juvenile inmates of prisons. Conclusion: The sources above therefore demonstrate that the juvenile justice system has not been effective in reducing recidivism among young offenders(Loeber and Farrington, 1998). Some of the causal factors for juvenile offending may include poverty and social pressures(Dela Torre, 2007). But while the prison environment provides an environment that could aid in reducing recidivism, the kinds of programs devised have been largely ineffective because only a small percentage of former juvenile offenders have been able to gain employment or an education after leaving prison (Lewis et al, 1994). Researchers have suggested that constructive regimes must be built to reduce recidivism, notably by improving literacy among offenders so that they can be employed after leaving prison(Fader, 2009; Travis, 1999). References: Ashkar, P. J. and Kenny, D. T. (2008). “Views from the inside: Young offenders’ subjective experiences of incarceration.”, International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 52(5), 584-5. De La Torre, Adela (1997). “Rescuing lives without hope: Smaller classes, sports programs, jobs, church involvement: These are possible solutions to juvenile crime.”, Los Angeles Times:7 (June 18, 1997). Fader, J. (2009). “Juvenile Justice: A case for transparency and research based accountability”, Changing Lives, Changing Minds, Retrieved March 4, 2009 http://cltlblog.wordpress.com/2009/02/25/juvenile-justice-a-case-for- transparency-and-research-based-accountability/; Ganter, Noah M.(2001). “Punishment and Family Control: Actor focused blame and attributions for juvenile delinquency”, Phd Dissertation presented at the University of California, Santa Cruz, Retrieved March 21, 2009: http://ezproxy.libproxy.db.erau.edu/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=7259 72521&sid=6&Fmt=2&clientId=17916&RQT=309&VName=PQD Hagell, A. (2002). “The mental health of young offenders - bright futures: working with vulnerable young people”, London: Mental Health Foundation Kupchik, Aaron. (2007). “The correctional experiences of youth in adult and juvenile prisons”, Justice Quarterly, 24(2), 247-270. Lewis D.O, Yeager C.A, Lovely R., Stein A. and Cobham-Porterreal, C.S,(1994). “A clinical follow-up of delinquent males: ignored variables, unmet needs and the perpetuation of violence.”, Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 33: 518-28 Loeber, and Farrington, D. (1998). “Serious and violent juvenile offenders.”, New York: Sage Travis, Alan, (1999). “Society: Prison reform: words of hope Racism, suicides, staggeringly low literacy levels-----who’d want to have to tackle those sort of problems? In his first interview since taking the job, the prison service’s new director-general tells Alan Travis how he aims to give inmates a real chance”, The Guardian:6 (April 14, 1999). Read More