The Effectiveness of the US Juvenile Justice System

Introduction

The criminal justice system in the country is meant to transform offenders into responsible and law-abiding citizens who can participate in the country’s socioeconomic and political development. Among the main issues of the juvenile justice system in the United States, special attention should be paid to what is included in the decision-making process. Therefore, the study aims to examine the various strategies and interventions used by the system to rehabilitate young offenders, as well as the outcomes of these interventions. This step is valuable, as it will allow understanding better and spreading awareness about the stages and regulations it includes. By identifying the strengths and weaknesses of the current system, the study hopes to provide recommendations for improving the juvenile justice system’s effectiveness in rehabilitating young offenders.

There is a pressing need to assess the effectiveness of the juvenile justice system as the number of juvenile offenders in the United States continues to rise. According to the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (2019), there were almost 700,000 juvenile arrests in 2019 alone. This figure is concerning and demonstrates that much work still needs to be done to ensure the juvenile justice system successfully rehabilitates young offenders. The over-representation of minority groups among juvenile offenders is one of the significant problems in the juvenile justice system. For instance, compared to white kids, those of African American and Hispanic descent are detained and imprisoned at substantially greater rates. It implies that underlying social and economic variables play a role in their participation in the criminal justice system. Furthermore, studies have indicated that jailed adolescents are more likely to commit crimes again and have worse long-term results than those who are not, indicating the need for more efficient rehabilitative techniques.

The severity of sentencing guidelines is another problem in the juvenile justice system. According to critics, the system’s emphasis on punishment rather than rehabilitation has resulted in the imposition of excessively harsh terms for minimal infractions, which can have long-term detrimental effects on juvenile offenders. Concerns regarding the system’s lack of justice and due process are also present, particularly in light of mandatory minimum sentences and other punitive measures. In light of the preceding, this research aims to present a thorough review of the juvenile justice system in the United States, emphasizing rehabilitation techniques, equality and fairness, and the efficiency of sentencing standards. The research attempts to identify areas where the system may be modified to meet the requirements of young offenders better and ensure they are provided with the help they need to become responsible and law-abiding citizens.

The Rationale of the Study

The rationale for this study is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the effectiveness of the juvenile justice system in the United States. It is because this topic is quite complex and relevant to study. Among the main problems associated with this area is the overrepresentation of a minority group, which implies many sentenced people of color. Moreover, this system is criticized for imposing severe punishments, which raises the question of fairness and justice when deciding the fate of juvenile offenders.

Research has established a severe problem with the overrepresentation of minority groups in the juvenile justice system. The juvenile justice system disproportionately targets young people of African American and Hispanic descent, arresting, imprisoning, and sentencing them to harsher terms of imprisonment. It is proposed that underlying social and economic difficulties lead to juvenile offenders’ involvement in the system. These problems must be addressed to build a more just and equitable juvenile justice system. Moreover, the juvenile justice system has come under fire for handing out severe punishments and stressing punishment over rehabilitation. This method has resulted in excessively harsh penalties for tiny acts, which may have long-term detrimental effects on juvenile offenders.

The paper seeks to investigate the social issues concerning the activities and decisions of the juvenile justice system in the United States. This study aims to contribute to ongoing efforts to improve the design and ensure that it meets the needs of all young offenders. This will be done by analyzing the current state of the juvenile justice system and assessing its effectiveness in rehabilitating young offenders. The study’s findings will be helpful for policymakers, practitioners, and advocates working to promote more effective and equitable juvenile justice practices in the United States as this social issue persists throughout the country. These aspects emphasize the importance of studying the highlighted problem and will contribute to improving the modern juvenile justice system.

The study’s goals must be clearly defined to conduct the most helpful and influential research. This step will allow one to avoid deviations from the work’s primary value and comply with the allocated work plan. In addition, it will enable determining the necessary literature to gain the best insight into the issue. The objectives of this study include the following:

• To identify the rehabilitation strategies used in the juvenile justice system and examine their effectiveness in rehabilitating offenders.
• To analyze the fairness and equity of the juvenile justice system and assess the impact of race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status on sentencing.
• Assess the effectiveness of the current juvenile sentencing guidelines and identify ways to improve the system to achieve its goals.

Literature Review

Various articles can be highlighted in studying juvenile systems in the US and abroad. However, the following articles are essential because they address critical issues in the juvenile justice system and offer insights into improving offenders’ outcomes. Narvey et al. (2021) consider the influence of psychological factors of effect on the occurrence of deviant behavior among minors. A group of authors conducted a review or meta-analysis of prior research investigating psychological factors’ impact on children’s abnormal behavior. They gathered and examined data from many research studies to conclude the relationship between aggressive behavior, empathy, and deviant behavior in children. This article is relevant for this work, as it determines why young offenders may increase. The authors emphasize that “individuals who had previously demonstrated violent behavior also demonstrated lower empathy” (Narvey et al., 2021, p. 46). The limitation of this article is focusing on only one maltreatment event.

The article by Kurlychek and Johnson (2019) under the title “Cumulative Disadvantage in the American criminal justice system” also touches on the shortcomings of the modern criminal justice system. The authors utilized a qualitative study approach, such as content analysis, to assess the data and develop conclusions on the importance of race, attire, grooming, group affiliations, and demeanor in the criminal justice system’s treatment of juvenile offenders. It is essential to give special attention to the characteristics the police perceive as inherent in young offenders. Among them were “interactive cues to assess the youth’s character and culpability.” (Kurlychek & Johnson, 2019, p. 298). Thus, the main problem that represents the value of this study is paying attention to extralegal and contextual factors, which is relevant to the current paper. At the same time, the limiting aspect of this study is the focus on specific criteria like race, ethnicity, and gender and the lack of opportunities to study causal mechanisms of cumulative disadvantages in punishment.

Particular attention should be paid to the problem of rehabilitation of minors convicted of crimes. Farkas (2021) stated that “the current juvenile justice system fails to fulfill its fundamental goal of rehabilitation because it forces America’s delinquent youth to endure traumas that derail a child’s healthy development” (p.10). Thus, this article represents relevance and value for this topic, as it considers the shortcomings of the juvenile justice system. The limitation of this source is that it entirely relied on secondary data. Mental and physical abuse and lack of guidance stand out among them. McLeod and Roberts (2023) emphasize that “juvenile correctional facilities often do not have the resources for social and psychological development or rehabilitation” (p. 33). Thus, this article is also relevant to the topic under study, as it affects failures and the possibility of correcting them in helping juvenile offenders. It also considers the contribution of lack of moral support, deprivation of education, and fiscal costs. The limitation of this source becomes localized barriers when implementing the proposed initiatives. The literature review shows that to alleviate the issue, there has been some effort to reform the juvenile justice system in the country. There is an effort to reduce custodial sentences for minor offenses significantly.

Methods

The juvenile system will be analyzed by reviewing existing literature on the effectiveness of the juvenile justice system in achieving its goals of rehabilitating young offenders and redirecting them toward a healthy and productive life. The research will also analyze the rehabilitation strategies used by the system to identify its strengths and weaknesses. The project will progress through a systematic review of the literature on the juvenile justice system, which will include studies on the effectiveness of various interventions used to rehabilitate young offenders. The review will also consider studies examining the system’s disparities and identify areas for improvement.

Reviewing cases and literature will be the primary intervention employed in this study to acquire access to a wide range of sources and data, enabling a more in-depth understanding of the research issue. With key players in the juvenile justice system, such as juvenile justice professionals, parents, and young offenders, this will entail assessing current material. The data gathered will be examined to establish the most successful rehabilitation procedures and the areas that require improvement. Additionally, the study will look at the effects of the policies that lead to the school-to-prison pipeline, a phenomenon in which kids, particularly those from underprivileged communities, are disproportionately reprimanded and forced out of schools and into the criminal justice system. Reviewing pertinent policies and their effects on the juvenile justice system will be part of this research, including providing policy suggestions to lessen the system’s disproportionate negative impact on underrepresented populations.

Analysis

The preceding section explained the method used to collect and process data. In this section, I present findings made from various secondary sources. The goal is to respond to the research aim and objectives, as outlined in the introductory part of this document. As explained in the methodology section, this paper relied on published sources instead of collecting primary data because of the limited available time.

Rehabilitation Strategies Used in the Juvenile Justice System and Their Effectiveness

The juvenile justice system in the United States uses various correctional strategies once it is determined that a juvenile has become delinquent. The approach depends on the crime committed, the child’s age, and the family setup. Onifade et al. (2019) explain that informal probation is one of the lightest sentences a minor can get after being convicted of an offense. In this case, an offender is given unsupervised probation, meaning they do not need to report to a probation officer. Instead, the offender will be required to pay a fine prescribed by the judge and promise not to engage in any criminal activity, especially during probation. Sometimes, an individual can be sentenced to court-ordered counseling or treatment (Robles-Ramamurthy & Watson, 2019). It often happens when it is determined that the offender has a mental condition requiring a medical expert’s attention.

Sometimes, a judge may order a child to be placed in foster care. Elliott et al. (2020) explain that foster care is often recommended when it has been established that the juvenile committed the offense because of the environment in which they are exposed. The rationale of the sentence is that once the setting is changed, it is less likely that the child will be involved in crime. When the child cannot get appropriate foster care or in case their crime involves violence, they are likely to be enrolled in a juvenile offender school (Hughes et al., 2020). Juveniles can continue their education in these institutions but in a semi-prison institution. The country has various approved schools where the focus is not only to impart knowledge on a child but also to help transform their habit.

A state juvenile detention center is often the last option, especially when the other options discussed above are not available or appropriate. Juvenile detention centers are meant to incarcerate juveniles considered dangerous to society. Elliott et al. (2020) argue that sometimes these centers are recommended for repeat offenders who have gone through other non-custodial sentences but have not changed. Studies have shown that there is a disproportionate number of minorities who are given custodial sentences. According to Onifade et al. (2019), it is more likely for an African American juvenile to be sent to a juvenile detention center than a white child when they have committed a similar offense. The study also argues that the current juvenile justice system in the United States is so biased that it is likely for minorities, especially African American or Hispanic children, to be found guilty of a specific crime and sent to an approved school or a similar custodial sentence.

When examining the effectiveness of these strategies in the juvenile justice system, one can be misled to believe they are reducing juvenile delinquency in the country. It is necessary to note that of all the strategies discussed above, juvenile detention centers are one of the most commonly used, especially when an offender is from a low-income family or is African American or Hispanic (Onifade et al., 2019). Figure 1 below shows the number of juvenile offenders in residential placement facilities from 1997 to 2013 by race. There is a disproportionately high number of Blacks in these facilities than any other race. The statistics below show that the American Indians or Alaska Natives, another minority group, come second. The Hispanics come in third position regarding their representation in these detention facilities (Musu-Gillette & McFarland, 2016). Their model in the placement facilities is higher than the country’s average. At the lowest level are the Whites, as shown in the statistics below. This is primarily attributed to Whites being less likely to get a custodial sentence than any other race in the country for a similar offense.

The statistics above show that there has been a consistent decrease in the number of those in detention centers as a representation of the entire population. African American juveniles had dropped by more than half, from about 1000 per 100,000 juveniles to slightly above 400 per 100,000 people. All races have registered a drop in the number of those incarcerated as a representative of the entire population. Robles-Ramamurthy and Watson (2019) explain that this drop should not be attributed to the country’s juvenile system. Improving living standards, improved education in the country, and responsible parenting have played a more significant role than the country’s justice system. The drop registered in the figure above is attributed to a substantial decline in the number of first offenders in the country.

When the recidivism rate is assessed, it shows that the country’s juvenile justice system is not as effective as what the statistics above may present. This system’s goal and primary assumption are that once a child is taken through it, chances are significantly reduced that the individual will offend again. Figure 2 below shows that among Blacks, 25% of those released are likely to commit the same crime again. The number is not significantly different from Whites, who are 24.1% likely to re-offend. It means that the recidivism rate among Whites is not substantially different from Blacks. The problem is that the juvenile justice system will likely give Blacks a harsher punishment than Whites. The figure shows that half of the Hispanic (50.0%) juveniles are more likely to commit a crime again upon release. This worrying trend shows how ineffective the system is if half of those released are likely to be re-imprisoned.

Fairness and Equity of the Juvenile Justice System and Its Impact

The analysis of the effectiveness of this system also needs to focus on age. Hughes et al. (2020) believe sentencing a young child to a juvenile detention center is highly advisable. At this early stage, they are likely to learn better ways of committing serious crimes than they are likely to learn to become responsible citizens. As shown in Table 1 below, when sent to these centers, the younger the person is, the higher the rate they are likely to re-offend. The table shows that for 13-year-olds, the rate of recidivism is almost 100%. It means that once such a child is released, they will commit a more serious crime and be sent back to jail. For those who go to prison at 15 years, the number drops significantly to 59.4%. It then reduces to 41.6% for those 16 years, 19.3% for 17-year-olds, 15.2% for 18-year-olds, and 14.3% for the 19-year-old. The statistics show that the older a person is given a custodial sentence, the lesser the likelihood they will re-offend. It confirms the argument of Onifade et al. (2019) that emphasis on custodial sentences for juvenile offenders only transforms them into more dangerous criminals.

Table 1: Recidivism by Age

The statistics further reaffirm the argument that the American criminal justice system is designed to be against African Americans. At a young age, minorities are more likely to be sent to prison. In these facilities, they are taken from the regular school system to a detention facility to learn how to become more dangerous criminals. They get to interact with other criminal minds, and they find that what they have in common is their love of crime. By becoming adults, they would have committed several offenses, interacted with law enforcement officers, and served time in jail. They are less likely to fear serving a sentence and are bolder than an average American. This problem worsens because such individuals lack the life skills to gain employment (Elliott et al., 2020). When their peers were in school, achieving the relevant skills needed in the job market, they spent time in juvenile detention centers. An employer is also less likely to hire someone if it is revealed that they have served a jail sentence, even if they served as a juvenile.

It was also necessary to assess the rate of recidivism based on the nature of the crime committed. Table 2 below shows the rate of recidivism based on the crime committed. Those who commit severe offenses such as violent crimes are 33.0% more likely to commit a crime again, while those who commit severe but non-violent offenses are 31.6% more likely to re-offend. It means that for these offenders, one in every 3 of them released will be rearrested and taken to jail. The number drops to 25% for those who commit less serious offenses. For minor offenders, the chances that they are likely to re-offend is 18.4%, as shown in the statistics below. The data shows that the less serious the offense, the lesser the likelihood that the individual will offend again. Social status is another factor determining whether a juvenile is sent to jail. The rich are less likely to allow their children to serve a custodial sentence. They will use their resources to hire the best attorney to represent their children. On the other hand, the poor cannot afford to hire an attorney, so their children may end up serving a jail term even for a minor offense that only needs a fine.

Table 2: Recidivism by Type of Offence

Effectiveness of the Current Juvenile Sentencing Guidelines

The current juvenile sentencing guidelines are highly ineffective. As shown in the statistics above, the system is deliberately skewed against African Americans, Hispanics, and people experiencing poverty. According to Onifade et al. (2019), the problem starts at the primary level, during an arrest. Law enforcement agents are more likely to consider African Americans suspect of a violent crime or that involving drug abuse. When such a person is taken to court, judges and jury are more likely to have a negative perception towards African Americans than a White child. The system is so skewed that an innocent child can quickly be sentenced to serve a term for a crime they did not commit.

A perfect example is the case of George Stinney, who was arrested and wrongfully convicted and later executed for a crime he did not commit (Hughes et al., 2020). His case demonstrates how ineffective the juvenile sentencing guideline in the country is and how necessary it is to find ways to improve the system. The fact that the rich are less likely to stay out of prison is another example of how ineffective the system is.

Differences in State Policy of the Juvenile System

The United States has a complicated and diverse collection of juvenile justice policies. Various variables have influenced these programs, including the political context, social attitudes toward adolescents, and the perceived success of multiple treatments. The age at which adolescents are deemed adults in the criminal justice system is one significant variance in state regulation. In some jurisdictions, such as New York and North Carolina, the age of criminal responsibility is 16, which means that 16-year-olds can be prosecuted as adults for certain offenses(Hughes et al., 2020). Other states, such as Missouri and Wisconsin, have a criminal responsibility age of 17, while California and Vermont have 18. This has significant ramifications for how adolescents are treated in the judicial system, as youth who are prosecuted as adults frequently face harsher sentences and fewer rehabilitation services.

The use of juvenile confinement is another difference in state policy. Vermont and Hawaii, for example, have abandoned security custody and incarceration for juveniles in favor of community-based alternatives, including restorative justice and diversion programs. Other states with high teenage incarceration rates, such as Louisiana and Texas, rely heavily on secure detention facilities. According to research, jailed adolescents are more likely to experience adverse outcomes such as recidivism and poor mental health, therefore, using community-based alternatives may be more beneficial in encouraging better results for youth.

Conclusion

The juvenile justice system in the US is not operating as efficiently as it should. Reform is required, as evidenced by youth arrests and repeat crime statistics. The primary objective should be to rehabilitate and change juvenile offenders rather than merely punishing them since the system is faulty and has huge holes that need to be filled. The main emphasis should be on resolving the root causes of their criminal conduct, such as poverty, insufficient education, and a lack of access to mental health care. No matter a person’s color, ethnicity, or social standing, the system should prioritize fairness and equity in sentencing.

It is essential to find and practice effective tactics and interventions that can assist juvenile offenders in changing their lives if successful rehabilitation is to be achieved. Research that analyses the juvenile justice system’s current condition and its efficiency in rehabilitating young offenders is required. To offer suggestions for improvement, it is also crucial to pinpoint the present system’s advantages and disadvantages. Legislators, practitioners, and activists must collaborate to encourage more efficient and fair juvenile justice processes. Utilizing community-based programs that provide support and direction to juvenile offenders is a valuable tactic that may be implemented. These programs can include counseling services, education, job training, and mentorship to address the underlying problems leading to their criminal behavior. The number of juvenile offenders in the system can also be decreased using diversion programs that provide alternatives to jail, such as mediation and restorative justice.

The issue of minority overrepresentation in the system must be addressed as a crucial additional tactic. Regardless of color, ethnicity, or socioeconomic standing, juvenile offenders must be handled equally and equitably under the system. It may be done by enacting laws that end racial inequities in sentencing, educating system employees on cultural competency, and broadening workforce diversity. The juvenile justice system in the United States requires a significant overhaul to properly rehabilitate young offenders and maintain a fair and equitable system. The emphasis should be on rehabilitation rather than punishment, and techniques such as community-based and diversion programs should be developed to address underlying issues. Furthermore, resolving the overrepresentation of minorities in the system necessitates acknowledging and tackling systemic racism and unconscious bias. With a commitment to reform, the juvenile justice system may better serve its aim of rehabilitating criminals into responsible and law-abiding individuals who can contribute to the country’s socioeconomic and political progress.

References

Elliott, D., Buckley, P., Gottfredson, D., Hawkins, D., & Tolan, P. (2020). Evidence-based juvenile justice programs and practices: A critical review. Criminology & Public Policy, 19(4), 1305-1328. Web.

Farkas, A. (2021). The myth of rehabilitation: How to address juvenile justice system’s contributions to recidivism. Student Works, 1181. Web.

Hughes, T., Raines, T., & Malone, C. (2020). School pathways to the juvenile justice system. Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 7(1) 72-79. Web.

Indiana Department of Correction. (2020). Juvenile recidivism 2020. The Indiana Department of Correction.

Kurlychek, M. C., & Johnson, B. D. (2019). Cumulative disadvantage in the American criminal justice system. Annual Review of Criminology, 2, 291-319. Web.

McLeod, D. A., & Roberts, E. A. (2023). Toward modernization: using strategic development to address deficits in the juvenile justice system. National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Journal, 6(1), 32. Web.

Musu-Gillette, L., & McFarland, J. (2016). Number of juvenile offenders in residential placement falls: Racial/ethnic gaps persist. National Center for Education Statistics. Web.

Narvey, C., Yang, J., Wolff, K. T., Baglivio, M., & Piquero, A. R. (2021). The interrelationship between empathy and adverse childhood experiences and their impact on juvenile recidivism. Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice, 19(1), 45-67. Web.

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). (2019). Juvenile Justice Statistics National Report Series Bulletin. US Department of Justice.

Onifade, E., Barnes, A., Campbell, C., & Mandalari, A. (2019). Risk assessment as a mechanism for reducing differential treatment of minorities by a juvenile justice system. Journal of Ethnicity in Criminal Justice, 17(3), 203-227. Web.

Robles-Ramamurthy, B., & Watson, C. (2019). Examining racial disparities in juvenile justice. American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, 47(1).