Prospectus - Addressing, Rehabilitation, Punishment, and Recidivism amongst the Male Juvenile Population

A Case Study of Juvenile Recidivism in Georgia

A case study of Dougherty County, Tift County, and Colquitt County, Georgia, addresses issues of rehabilitation, punishment, and recidivism among male juveniles aged 13 to 16 years old.

A case study of Dougherty County, Tift County, and Colquitt County, Georgia, addresses issues of rehabilitation, punishment, and recidivism among male juveniles aged 13 to 16 years old.

The Rate of Relapse Among Young People

The rate of relapse among young people has increased recently. Numerous studies have found that the recidivism rate among young individuals is rising. (Carney & Buttell, 2003). Juvenile crime must be avoided because it reduces children’s quality of life. Many young people encounter difficulties when they return to their communities after completing their detentions. So as to prevent recidivism, the causes of such problems must be understood (Caneppele & Calderoni, 2014). Among the causes of recidivism is the issue of rehabilitation. Lack of appropriate follow-up and rehabilitation programs after detention has led to the recurrence of offense among minors. On the other hand, a primary cause for the high recidivism rate is the lack of enough punishment. The punishments imposed are not fitting for the crimes, and hence they do not deter the recurrence of offenses. In most cases, some youths escape punishment for their criminal activity while others receive light penalties for their crimes. Reform efforts must, therefore, create various alternatives to combat and mitigate the issue of recidivism. A vehemently opposed proposal is that of trying young delinquents in adult courts. One of the critics of the argument recommends that youths be treated as youths and encourages judges not to subject them to adult sentence (Gottesman & Schwarz, 2011; Harris, Lockwood, Mengers, & Stoodley, 2011). It is important to determine and come up with programs and suitable strategies that best handle the issue of recidivism through a balanced approach (Abrams, 2006). Ways of reducing recidivism are not a new phenomenon in Dougherty County, Tift County, and Colquitt County, Georgia, but putting the idea into motion is. What is new is the escalated recidivism rate in the three areas that has arisen due to the inadequacy of corrective measures. Although many pieces of research exist on how to prevent juvenile recidivism, the rehabilitation programs and punishments are light in nature and therefore ineffective in curbing recidivism. Of the many aspects of juvenile delinquency, the effectiveness of rehabilitation programs and punishment measures is arguably an essential step in curbing recidivism. Thus, the aim of this research is to advance the scholarly knowledge on: a) How to address rehabilitation, b) How to properly punish and c) Ways to implement programs to reduce recidivism rates amongst the male juvenile population ages 13-16 years-old in Dougherty County, Tift County, and Colquitt County, Georgia.

Purpose of Study

The purpose of this research is to urgently address rehabilitation, punishment, and juvenile recidivism within the juvenile correction systems. The researcher goal is to establish ways of preventing teen offenders from growing to become adult criminals. To address this gap, the researcher will utilize a qualitative research design. This design hopes to highlight the insufficiency of current programs and official sanctions. The study seeks to create techniques that can be adopted to prevent cases where juvenile delinquents graduate from becoming adult offenders. Emphasis will be placed on the core causes of juvenile recidivism, and it will be taken from the point of view of three young male offenders between 13 and 16 years of age in Dougherty County, Tift County, and Colquitt County, Georgia. For a more rounded view of the problem statement, the judiciary, specifically sitting judges and probation officers, will also be interviewed on the same topics. This study will identify some of the effective and ineffective components of the Georgia Juvenile Point System. The study also intends to investigate as to whether the punishments and rehabilitation methods currently in use and how the “slap on the risk” will shield young people from further destructive behavior.

Significance

The respective of rehabilitation and punishment techniques have been analysis in an outlying manner with nearly no based-on research evaluating both techniques concurrently. However, the implications for social change is to help reduce recidivism by developing proper sentencing, and effective programs in breaking the graduation of male youth offenders to adult offenders in Dougherty County, Tift County, and Colquitt County, Georgia. The changes in rehabilitation programs will give various possible alternative measures that can be used to reduce the rate of recidivism among juveniles who are in rehabilitation centers. This study will authenticate scientific evidence of issues leading to recidivism of males’ juveniles ages 13-16. Revisiting the punishment measures will help ensure that the most appropriate forms of punishment are administered so as to deter the recurrence of offense. The research evidence will help in redesigning the current programs and sentencing so that the punishment would fit the crime and eventually reduce the recidivism rate amongst males ages 13-16. This exclusive research will address the issue of escalating recidivism and will come up with approaches geared towards solving this problem and hence add to the body of knowledge that exist on juvenile recidivism.

Background Information

Rehabilitation programs and punishment measures are important in preventing recidivism. Understanding the current rehabilitation programs and discipline will help in making decisions on how to reduce recurrence of offenses among juveniles. The current probation officers and judges are necessary as they contribute to evaluating various aspects of rehabilitation programs and punishment measures so as to make them more efficient in curbing youth recidivism. It is through interactions with juveniles and various officers that we will be able to thoroughly grasp how rehabilitation programs and punishment can reduce and prevent recidivism among minors.

Selected Scholarly Articles

Selected scholarly articles related to juvenile recidivism are described below:

Carcach (1999)

Carcach (1999) highlights the need to understand the factors that lead youths to re-offend. He also emphasizes the need to understand the offending patterns of juvenile so as to take appropriate measures meant to curb recidivism.

Henning (2013)

Henning (2013) shows how the system of minors faces the issue of racial prejudice. So as to reduce the rate of recidivism, it is important to address discrimination and victimization of particular youths. The courts have an obligation and a significant role in dealing with recurrence.

Hoeve, McReynolds, Wasserman, & McMillan (2013)

Hoeve, McReynolds, Wasserman, & McMillan (2013) provide information that shows how mental health disorders influence the severity of reoffending in juveniles. The article gives a correlation between the health i.e. mental state of an offender and their past offenses as a way to prevent recidivism. The article postulates a high risk of recurring crime among juveniles who abuse drugs. Early treatment of teens who abuse drugs is a measure to curb recidivism.

King, Barr, and Woolard (2015)

King, Barr, and Woolard (2015) provide a parental program which is a practical way of preventing the teens from falling back to delinquent behaviors. The program provides parents and especially the father with instructions on how to create lasting bonds with their incarcerated teens.

Kubont (2011)

Kubont (2011) exemplify the need to reduce the burden of the justice system as a way of reducing the reoffending rates among the juveniles.

Nissenbaum (2006)

Nissenbaum (2006) provides a theoretical model that explains ways to reduce recidivism. Through the model, it is clear that recidivism can be reduced by assessing, treating and providing aftercare services to teens involved in the juvenile system.

Western & Wilderman (2010)

Western & Wilderman (2010) recommends policy reforms to address the issue of mass incarcerations, for instance reconsidering the sentence for repeat offenders. The article points to the need to implement public policy reforms in the society as well as in the judicial system as a measure to prevent recidivism.

Kovacevic, Suljagic, Ljuca, & Edin (2014)

Kovacevic, Suljagic, Ljuca, & Edin (2014) provide a comparison between recidivist and non-recidivist teens. In their report conducted on juvenile offenders, they explain four areas that increase the risk of recidivism. These areas are the minor’s personality, spare time, factors within the family and school. They also highlight that family functioning and extra time is the highest contributors to recidivism.

Weatherburn, McGrath, & Bartels (2013)

Weatherburn, McGrath, & Bartels (2013) provide three assumptions that face the juvenile system. The authors describe the assumptions as dogmas and give their implications on the youth justice policy. The first dogma is that minors who get into contact with the court system have a high chance of reoffending. The second dogma is that traditional justice is not as effective as restorative justice. Lastly, there is the dogma that juvenile offending is self-limiting and transient.

In the exploration of juvenile recidivism among teens aged Dougherty County, Tift County, and Colquitt County, Georgia, it is imperative to understand the role of rehabilitation programs and punishment measures so as to develop effective strategies. Researchers, in the current literature, discuss the ways to reduce recidivism by providing various models, policies, and programs (Nissenbaum, 2006; Western & Wilderman, 2010 and King, Barr, & Woolard, 2015). There are also researchers who have studied areas that increase recidivism as well as assumptions that face the juvenile justice system (Kovacevic et al., 2014 and Weatherburn et al., 2013). Other researchers have studied how racial prejudice and mental health can lead to recurrence of offense among juveniles (Henning, 2013 and Hoeve et al., 2013). Albeit this literature, there remains limited research on how rehabilitation programs and punishment measures can be effectively used in curbing recidivism. Making changes to the current rehabilitation programs and discipline sanctions could serve as a significant component in addressing the issue of juvenile recidivism among males in Dougherty County, Tift County, and Colquitt County, Georgia.

Framework

On the one hand, the theoretical framework follows an analysis of psychodynamic theory by Skinner (2011). Skinner clearly explains that if juveniles are influenced negatively during childhood, then the probability of them committing future crimes are much higher. On the other hand, the framework follows the social learning theory by Burgess& Akers, (1966). Through their discussion, the authors clarify why one would participate in criminal behavior. The framework thus provides the infrastructure for comprehending the reasoning for juvenile recidivism. Moreover, if any other fieldwork and petition were to arise, Skinner, Akers or Burgess’s theory would aid into explaining why juvenile recidivism occurs.

Research Questions

RQ1-Qualitative: How would you describe the current rehabilitation programs? How can the program be improved? Does the program address the reason why you are here?

RQ2-Qualitative: What themes emerge in participant’s understanding of how psychodynamic theory affects their lives?

RQ1-Qualitative: What programs does Georgia have in existence? Does Georgia offer juveniles follow-up care after being released?

RQ2-Qualitative: What is the Georgia point system? Does it have a positive or adverse effect on the young offender?

RQ1-Qualitative: What is meant by the seven deadly sins as it relates to juveniles? In what ways does it influence delinquent juveniles?

RQ2-What are the views of judges and other judiciary officials on rehabilitation programs versus a focus on extensive incarceration?

Nature of the Study

The nature of this study will be a qualitative research design. As such, it will utilize data collection methods including surveys and questionnaire administered to the current Georgia Probation Officer, and Judges. A qualitative design is consistent with understanding ways to enhance the effectiveness of rehabilitation programs and punishment measures meant to reduce recidivism among the juveniles which are the primary focus of this study. A qualitative design will assist solicit the opinions, attitudes, and behaviors of sample populations taken from Dougherty County, Tift County, and Colquitt County, Georgia. The analysis of the data obtained will provide findings that will be used to create techniques that enhance the efficiency of rehabilitation programs and punishment meant to curb cases of juvenile recidivism among the 13-16 year -old males.

Possible Types and Sources of Data

Schedule interviews with probation officers and judges handling juvenile cases.

Use surveys to collect first-hand information from Juveniles within rehabilitation centers.

Administer questionnaires to gather data on whether juveniles understand the psychodynamic theory.

Evaluate the Georgia point juvenile system.

Observe the behavioral differences by comparing youths who have attended rehabilitation programs and those who have not.

Rate the levels of rehabilitation, punishment, and recidivism amongst male offenders aged 13-16 years in Dougherty County, Tift County, and Colquitt County, Georgia.

Possible Analytical Strategies

To analyze the qualitative data, various analytical approaches shall be used. The data obtained by administering questionnaire shall be analyzed using deductive coding for the close-ended question and inductive coding for the open-ended question. The data obtained through surveys shall be analyzed using bar charts and graphs. The data collected through interviews will be summarized in frequency tables to bring out reasonable statistics. The study will examine and analyze the binary type of data. Eston Martz (2014) describes this type of data as follows:

“Binary data is defined as placing things in one of two mutually executive categories: right/wrong, true/false, or accept/reject.” The Bivariate type of data coincides with my research because of its relations to my study design.

Other Information

Bias tendency has the possibility to be subject to seep its way through research. However, it is paramount that the researcher focuses on statistical data and interview answers. Being that the researcher works indirectly with juvenile rehabilitation through counseling, punishment by incarcerating, and recidivism by re-arresting bias is subject to occur. Although, bias is a part of the disclosure it is paramount that every effort to eliminate any opinioned thoughts or beliefs be removed from this study. Also, the research is likely to face the challenge of Hawthorne effect where the respondents tend to alter their behavior since they know they are being observed. Finally, the study will utilize data from several sources which might be ingrained with some errors and this may affect the findings of the research.

References

Abrams, L. S. (2006). Listening to juvenile offenders: Can residential treatment prevent recidivism? Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 23(1), 61-85

Burgess, R. L., & Akers, R. L. (1966). A differential association-reinforcement theory of criminal behavior. Social Problems, 14(2), 128-147.

Caneppele, S., & Calderoni, F. (2014). Organized crime, corruption and crime prevention. Essays in honor of Ernesto U. Savona. New York: Routledge.

Carcach, C. (1999). Recidivism and the juvenile offender. Paper presented at the Children and Crime: Victims and Offenders Conference convened by the Australian Institute of Criminology and held in Brisbane, 17-18 June 1999. Retrieved on May 05, 2017 from http://www.aic.gov.au/media_library/conferences/children/carcach.pdf

Carney, M. M., & Buttell, F. (2003). Reducing juvenile recidivism: Evaluating the wraparound services model. Research on Social Work Practice, 13(5), 551-568.

Gottesman, D. M., & Schwarz, S. W. (2011). Juvenile justice in the US: Facts for policymakers. New York: Routledge.

Harris, W. P., Lockwood, B., Mengers, L. & Stoodley, B. H. (2011). Measuring recidivism in juvenile corrections. Journal of Juvenile Justice, 1(1), 12-20.

Henning, K. (2013). Criminalizing normal adolescent behavior in communities of color: the role of prosecutors in juvenile justice reform. Cornell Law Review, 98(2), 282-462.

Hoeve, M., McReynolds, L., Wasserman, G. A. & McMillan, C. (2013). The influence of health disorders in the severity of reoffending in juveniles. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 40(3), 289-301.

King, S., Barr, R. & Woolard, J. (2015). Cost-effective juvenile justice reform: lessons from the just beginning “Baby Elmo” teen parenting program. North Carolina Law Review, 93(1) 1381.

Kovacevic, R., Suljagic, S., Ljuca, D. & Edin, M. (2014). Recidivism after treatment in a disciplinary center for juveniles. Journal of Special Education and Rehabilitation, 15(3-4), 43-58.

Kubont, K. F. (2011). Preventing recidivism in Marquette County, Michigan: What works. Retrieved on May 05, 2017 from http://www.worldcat.org/identities/np-kapla,%20dale%20p/

Martz, E. (2014). Understanding qualitative, quantitative, attribute, discrete, and continuous data types. Retrieved on May 05, 2017 from http://blog.minitab.com/blog/understanding-statistics/understanding-qualitative-quantitative-attribute-discrete-and-continuous-data-types

Nissenbaum, B. (2006). The history and future of juvenile recidivism. (Doctoral thesis. Adler School of Professional Psychology. Chicago, Illinois). Retrieved from http://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=9422446

Weatherburn, D., McGrath, A & Bartels, L. (2013) Three dogmas of juvenile justice. University of New South Wales Law Journal, 35(3), 779-809.

Western, B. & Wilderman, C. (2010). Incarceration in fragile families. The Future of Children, 20(2), 157-177.