The problem of juvenile justice became a real problem for society. The young generation became very hostile, cruel, severe, and inhuman. More and more crimes are committed by juveniles for the last 10 – 15 years. The reasons for the crimes are different but the consequence is common – court trial and punishment. Modern investigations show that a new approach to juvenile punishments should be provided. New methods of juvenile justice are introduced in the article ‘Outgrowing Juvenile Justice’ by Michael Jonas and they are opposed to the existing measures which are imposed on youth, who committed crimes, today.
- Tough justice vs. effort to reshape. A new approach that contrasts punishment is offered. The main idea is that juveniles should be rehabilitated, but not punished. The behavior of young criminals should be checked and tried to change, as punishment does not change it. Reshaping the young criminals means providing some actions which will be able to put the person on the right way, to make the person think and behave better.
- House arrest vs. prison. Imprisonment means that person is limited in freedom and if the person is put in prison, nothing good will come out of it. Prisons should contain elder people who will never change. Considering juveniles, it is possible to put them under house arrest, where people will not be able to act as he/she wants, and at the same time will not receive some unpleasant experience and wrong examples which usually gives prison.
- Reporting centers vs. just isolation. The idea of reporting centers is much better than just isolation, as visiting reporting centers person receives help which is necessary for the situation. Reporting centers help by advice, by some actions, they help to sustain before the temptation to commit this or that crime again. The only condition is if the person agrees to take up the help, he/she must visit reporting centers every day, telling what has happened.
- Offenders vs. offense. Offenders should be paid much more attention and not the offenses they have committed. The reason is that even the cruelest crime may be committed by the person who can change. Different situations may happen, and even murders should be given the chance to rehabilitate. Punishment also should be provided as people must respond to their actions, but the person should be tried to be changed.
- To scare by punishment vs. teaching. Modern juvenile justice is based on the principle of fear. Juveniles are afraid of the punishment and do not hurry to the hands of the police after the crime is committed. The way out is offered to make people know that they will be taught to behave, not to be rude and cruel. The skeptics of such an approach will never agree that it is possible to change criminals by teaching, but experienced teachers know the power of education.
So, the new ideas about juvenile justice are based on teaching and change, not on punishment, which usually pushes a person to the crimes again. The age of juveniles is so young, their consciousness may be changed and the prison is not the place where people will change, vice versa they will go deeper and deeper in the world of crime. The principles of juvenile justice should be reviewed and the stress on teaching should be made.
Reference List
Jonas, M. (2001). Outgrowing Juvenile Justice. CommonWealth. Pp. 60-69.