Pros And Cons Of Community Based Corrections

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Community based programs are alternative options available to juveniles, instead of incarceration that safely serves juveniles and give juveniles a second chance to become productive members of society. Community based programs aim to efficiently rehabilitate and prevent juvenile delinquency and reduce deviant behavior in juveniles (Alarid & Del Carmen, 2012). There are numerous community based corrections programs available in the juvenile justice system such as: drug court or substance abuse treatment, mentoring, independent living transition services, community service, mediation or restitution, group home placement, functional family therapy, job training or work programs, Electronic Monitoring System or Global Positioning System, …show more content…

The Department of Education and the Department of Juvenile Justice Probation Department joined forces to help youths acquire knowledge and gain skills that will result in living a positive and productive lifestyle (National Criminal Justice Reference System, 2000). School-based probation service differs from that of other community based corrections programs because it allows more contact, provides direct observation, increases school success, improves communication, prevents or reduces deviant behavior at school, decreases recidivism, and is cost efficient (Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention, n.d.). School-based probation allows the probation officer to “ intervene in crisis situations involving the juvenile probationers, assist schools in handling disruptive behavior by probationers and other youths, coordinate interventions with the schools and other agencies, coordinate reentry efforts for youth returning from a juvenile justice facility, and serve as an agent of early intervention for disruptive or truant youth who are not yet involved in the juvenile justice system (Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention, n.d., p. …show more content…

Group homes serve as a form of intervention for juvenile offenders, usually court ordered and less restrictive than other residential placement facilities and foster care placements, in which the juvenile is under 24-hour supervision (Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention, n.d.). The following agencies commonly partner with the Department of Juvenile Justice to provide services to juvenile offenders and at-risk youths in group homes: public welfare agencies, child welfare, and mental health (Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention, n.d.). Group homes differ from other community-based correctional programs because it is less restrictive, the juveniles are usually between fifteen and seventeen years old and the staff assists with emotional and behavioral problems that the juveniles are experiencing (Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention,

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