The U.S. Juvenile Justice Policy Landscape

The U.S. Juvenile Justice Policy Landscape

Introduction

Crime control policies are laws, rules and actions of the government solely designed to reduce acts of criminals. As the safety of the public is the main responsibility of the government, the policy makers of all levels from federal, local to state level, everyone is involved in formulating and implementing the policies on crime control.

Crime Control Policies

To control acts of criminals, the justice system is required to consider the three forms, which are, incapacitation, deterrence and rehabilitation. Incapacitation removes the criminal from the community by imprisoning them with the sole goal to prevent the individual from repeating or committing other crimes. Rehabilitation modifies the action of the criminals. Deterrence is setting examples by punishing identified offenders to deter criminals and potential crimes (Mears & Kelly, 2011).

The policies mentioned work with the effort made to achieve criminal justice and aims such as enhancement of the confidence of public in the justice system, maintenance of law and order in the punishment facilities and by imposing just punishment onto criminals. Having the knowledge of criminal career is significant during the development of effective and efficient policies for crime control. Furthermore identifying between criminal careers is important for enhancement of crime control's potential of the substitute strategies by targeting the efforts made for controlling crime.

The cost of crime control

In United States, one of the main social problems is the high rate of criminal activities particularly in neighborhoods and areas where poor citizens reside and end up being the victims of social and economical crimes and have to bear the cost of punishment and enforcement. The Americans continue living for their security and take expensive measures to ensure they are not, victimized. Avoiding of crime involves methods taken by potential victims to ensure the risks they are facing are, minimized. This includes moving to safer areas where there is a better security system for them with alarm systems and camera.

The cost of victimization is on those victims who take it upon them and those who go through inconvenience as they have the fear of criminal activity and crime control policies known for improving environment as the public has turned.

Juvenile Justice Policy System

Juvenile Services and Equal Justice/Policy Divisions combined with Juvenile Justice Policy System in the year 2007. The juvenile justice policy system has the responsibility to lead the efforts for ensuring compliance with the JJDP Act (Federal Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act, authorized again in the year 2002. This system also manages and directs grants taken from the federal and state funds in response to the needs that have been, identified for delinquent youth and families who are at risk. They also provide support of staff to the Juvenile Grant Planning and Review Council, which is an advisory group of the state mandated by the JJDP act. According to this, the council is to assist in the development of the justice system for juveniles and develop delinquency plans for ...