Juvenile Recidivism

Juvenile Recidivism

Introduction

Juvenile recidivism refers to the habitual or repeated relapse by juveniles into crime. It is a sort of chronic tendency where by juveniles resort to repeating crimes or anti-social behavior which they have committed in the past. The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) do not specify any rates for juvenile recidivism. This is due to the different juvenile justice system in each state (www.ncjrs.gov).

Background of the problem

An estimated 2.4 million juveniles face criminal charges each year. What is even more appalling than this large number is that 55 percent of the juveniles who are released from sentences face another arrest within a year of their release. In urban areas, the percentage is much higher, standing at about 76 percent (Wilson, pp 44).

This problem is set to increase in the future if proper steps are not taken to address this issue. Rates of juvenile recidivism have not fallen despite the 60 billion dollars that are pumped by the government each year in government-sponsored correction problems (www.celcee.edu).

Statement of the problem

In America 60 to 70 percent of the adults who are released from prison go back to committing crimes again. For juveniles, there is no proper collection of data to calculate the percentage of the rates of recidivism. However, estimates suggest that 50 to 65 percent of the convicted juvenile on their release are arrested within year of their release. In the state of California, the rates of return to crime are higher as 74 percent (cjareports.org). In Manhattan, 80 percent of all convicted juveniles who are released are re arrested within four years (Hewitt, John, Robert, 2006).

A lot of research conducted with regards to the trend of committing crimes among juveniles suggests that convicted juveniles who are released tend to further commit crime in the society (Wilson, pp 50).

Goals and objectives of the study

This proposal aims at finding out whether it would help curb crime in a society if juveniles were sentenced to long terms or would other alternative steps such as making the convicts go through educational programs be more helpful.

A solution to this growing menace has been cited as imposing long sentences on juveniles convicted of crime. However, there are many other important questions that need to be addressed along with the proposal of implementing long sentences. These include issues such as are the juveniles to be convicted in adult courts? Research shows that convicting juveniles in adult courts has been the cause of increase in Juvenile recidivism by as much as 50 percent (democrats.assembly.ca.gov). Other issues include providing better Medicaid benefits for juveniles after their release and making them participate in better programs.

In fact, for juvenile convicts to participate in programs instead of detention has been quoted as an effective method. Research shows that those juveniles who do not participate in programs and face detention are 4.5 time more likely to commit crimes again (Calvin, Sims, Barbara, 2006). This however, does not point out towards ending sentencing for juvenile ...