Background
Criminal justice policies are meant not only to arrest criminals or guarantee that they are abiding by the norms of the facilities where they have been detained but also to guarantee that the criminal justice system is impartial and capable of carrying out its intended functions. The State of Texas implements a number of policies and initiatives, including the FAYS program and HB 4371 policy, both of which are aimed at improving juvenile justice. I find drug and gun policy to be the most captivating and relevant, in addition to acknowledging the need for evaluation in criminal justice initiatives.
Criminal Justice Programs and Policies in Texas
The juvenile justice system in Texas has been subjected to intense observation for many years by the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition (TCJC). TCJC examine how different institutions relate to juvenile justice and advocate for tactics that lessen the need for court participation while targeting the underlying causes of crime, boosting national security, and preserving taxpayer money. HB 4371 is a multilateral policy that will assist Texas in increasing the age while also raising the threshold for juvenile justice, the age of mature criminal matters, and significant modifications to juvenile rehabilitation (Texas Criminal Justice Coalition, 2021). FAYS (Family and Youth Services), a prevention program that offers mentoring and family therapy in all 254 Texas counties, is one alternative to system involvement (Texas Criminal Justice Coalition, 2021). Everybody can refer an adolescent to FAYS, which includes school authorities, and it can offer youngsters fundamental assistance without criminalizing them.
Understanding of Criminal Justice Programs and Policies
Through public policy, the criminal justice system has an impact on everyone. I think of policies as a type of social control that makes sure everyone in society complies with the law. Policies cover topics including juvenile justice, drug policies, domestic violence, congestion in prisons, intimate partner violence, school violence, proposed federal immigration rules, counterterrorism, public safety, and many others. The fundamental moral principles guiding criminal justice policy prioritize the rights, welfare, and safety of both the public and the victims while considering those who have committed crimes in light of their propensity to hurt others (Carter & Ward, 2022). Various government levels generate public rules and legislation, with micro-level policies being implemented at the local scale and macro-level laws being implemented at the federal or state level.
Intriguing Areas
Since I believe that gun and drug laws are two of the most pertinent concerns in our society, I am primarily interested in a few specific trends and incentives in criminal law policy. Interventions and laws relating to gun control have been demonstrated to support trends toward reduced imprisonment as well as decreased rates of violent crime (Hamlin, 2021). The degree to which policing and gun control strategies reduced crime rates is, however, obscured by limitations in a conceptual framework. Despite the extensive firearm accessibility that appeared to be connected to drug industry operations, the shrinking crack-cocaine industry may be related to crime reduction. Because of this, I think that further study should be done on these two concerns, and new, more effective policies and programs should be implemented.
Evaluation
Among the most crucial techniques for evaluating the operation and results of criminal justice initiatives and policies is program assessment. Generally speaking, academics and law enforcement representatives collaborate to assess the efficacy of interventions intended to transform criminals or those at risk of becoming criminals. In order to improve programs and hold people accountable for their use of finite resources, a comprehensive assessment is required. A critical piece of data gathered from evaluation studies can help shape policy regarding criminal justice.
The Texas Criminal Justice Coalition focuses on the problems with proper policies and programs because the juvenile justice system in Texas unquestionably needs reforms and actions. The measures relating to guns and drugs are additionally those that might have the biggest positive impact on American society by lowering crime and conviction rates. In the interest of sustainable resource usage and beneficial outcomes, it should be a common responsibility to ensure the effectiveness of continuing policies and initiatives.
References
Carter, E., & Ward, T. (2022). The correctional classification hub: A framework for classificatory pluralism. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 62, 101679.
Hamlin, D. (2021). Are gun ownership rates and regulations associated with firearm incidents in American schools? A forty-year analysis (1980–2019). Journal of Criminal Justice, 76, 101847.
Texas Criminal Justice Coalition. (2021). Written testimony submitted by Alycia Castillo, policy analyst Ilana Blumstein and Temitope Banjo, policy associates Texas criminal justice coalition. Web.