Balancing Justice and Rehabilitation

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Recommended: Juvenile crime theory

Ideally, everyone is safe from harm because people care for one another with compassion. However, most only care for themselves, and worse, some individuals actually jeopardize and disrupt the well-being of the public. It is easy to label them all as immoral, but circumstances differ when they are young offenders. While it cannot keep everyone on track, the multistep juvenile justice system determines adolescent offenders’ consequences to provide them a chance for change and rehabilitation, making it overall effective and fair to juveniles and the community.

Although most juveniles who enter the system are not real criminals, some are, so by understanding their crimes and reasoning, law enforcement can better identify and stop repeat offenders. For instance, most crime rates have gone down recently, but juvenile robbery arrests have increased more than forty-six percent, which may be attributed to the economic struggle of many families (Puzzanchera 4). Although that is not an excuse, it can help law enforcement better understand whether offenders are real delinquents or just desperate. Unlike most misguided adolescents, six percent of crimes committed by minors are violent. And one-third of all homicides by juveniles occur in Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit, and New York (Juvenile Justice: Facts and Figures 1). These are all larger cities with more exposure to felonious influences, which can cause crime to rapidly diffuse through a city. This knowledge aids pinpointing where assistance is needed and focusing on violent misdemeanors can change a community by preventing repeat offenders while serving righteousness to victims and the public.

Inside the system, many cases are dismissed, but punishment is imperative for wrongdoings...

... middle of paper ...

...t the United States’ system is advanced and continually being improved in favor for everyone.

Works Cited

“Juvenile Justice: Facts and Figures.” American Bar Association. Web. 31 January 2011.

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“Juvenile Justice System Structure & Process.” Office of Juvenile Justice and

Delinquency Prevention. U.S. Department of Justice. Web. 1 February 2011.

Puzzanchera, Charles. “Juvenile Arrests 2008.” Office of Juvenile Justice and

Delinquency Prevention .December 2009. U.S. Department of Justice. Web. 31 January 2011..

“8% Solution, The.” Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. November

2001.U.S. Department of Justice. Web. 31 January 2011.

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