Juvenile Correctional Facility

EFEECTIVENESS OF JUVENILE CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES
BY
REG. NO:
A RESEARCH PROPOSAL SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR AWARD OF A MASTERS DEGREE IN ( ) FACULTY OF ()
(UNIVERSITY)
FEBRUARY (2014)

Summary
Correctional facilities, both private and public have been the main rehabilitation centers for criminals. Debates on whether these correctional facilities, especially those meant for juveniles are effective or not have been rife. The purpose of the present study is to ascertain whether juvenile correctional facilities are effective for changing the behavior of young individuals. The study will employ both quantitative, and Qualitative research methodologies, drawing on research methods such as library research, desktop research and collection of primary data from respondents to generate data and information regarding the present study that seeks to evaluate the effectiveness of juvenile correctional facilities. It is hoped that the findings from this research will be helpful to various stakeholders including governments, policy makers, organizations, scholars and researchers.
Keywords: Juvenile Correctional Facilities, Juvenile Crime, Racidivism

Table of Contents
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Summary  PAGEREF _Toc380961317 \h
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1.0 Introduction  PAGEREF _Toc380961318 \h
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1.1 Background to the study  PAGEREF _Toc380961319 \h
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1.2 Purpose  PAGEREF _Toc380961320 \h
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1.3 Objectives  PAGEREF _Toc380961321 \h
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1.4 Methodology  PAGEREF _Toc380961322 \h
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1.5 Sharing of Research Findings  PAGEREF _Toc380961323 \h
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1.6 Instruments  PAGEREF _Toc380961324 \h
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1.7 Validity of the Questionnaire  PAGEREF _Toc380961325 \h
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1.7 Interview Guide  PAGEREF _Toc380961326 \h
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1.8 Qualitative Data  PAGEREF _Toc380961327 \h
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1.9 Data Collection  PAGEREF _Toc380961328 \h
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1.10 Data Analysis  PAGEREF _Toc380961329 \h
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1.12 Accessing the Relevancy of Stakeholder Feedback  PAGEREF _Toc380961330 \h
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References  PAGEREF _Toc380961331 \h
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1.0 Introduction
This part presents the background of the study, objectives of this paper, methodologies that will be used, data analysis and storage.
1.1 Background to the study
For over a century, the major means that have been used for punishing, and treating both serious, and less serious criminals in America has been placement into various correctional facilities. These facilities are alternatively known as reformatories, training schools, and correction centers. A report issued by the Juvenile Policy Institute titled “The Cost of Confinement: Why Good Juvenile Justice Policies Make Good Fiscal Sense” posted that in America alone, more than 95, 000 juveniles are held in juvenile correctional facilities at a cost of 6 million dollars per year. Earlier studies have indicated that juvenile correctional facilities may train these juveniles for adult prisons. This points as to why many states have begun to reduce the number of youths taken into correctional facilities. Instead, they are now rethinking on how to support and finance alternative options. With an exclusion of approximately 30 million youths held in remand centers on a daily basis, awaiting their trials to be concluded, or to be placed in a correctional facility, the latest national count of youths held in correctional facilities by the end of 2013, were approximately 95,000 (Logan, 2014).
It has been found that the American system of Juvenile incarceration is among those unique in the world (Champion, 2013). A recent international report on youth incarceration established that the rate of youth custody in America (excluding those in correctional custody and detention) was 365 for every 100,000 youths. This rate was five times more than of the next nation in this list (South Africa with a rate of 70). There are various nations, which do not subject their youths to incarceration at all. This aspect has raised the question on whether youth incarceration is neither inevitable nor necessary in the modern society (MacKenzie, et al, 2013).
1.2 Purpose
The major aim of this study is to find out whether youth incarceration facilities are effective in correcting youth behavior.
1.3 Objectives
To examine whether youth behavior change when out of correctional facilities
To find out what makes these facilities to be effective or ineffective
To ascertain alternative measures in correcting youth behavior
To find out how juvenile correctional centers can be changed for their own good.
1.4 Methodology
The researcher will apply both qualitative and quantitative approach in this study. Moreover, the study will rely on questionnaires and surveys that are filled by citizens in evaluating their attitudes and perceptions on the role of juvenile correctional facilities. Data from citizens will be quite helpful because they offer statistical evidence from a huge population. Interview guides will be used in gathering information from prison officials. The researcher will first obtain permission from relevant prison authorities before engaging the officials in the study.
Qualitative and desk approach will also be used to find literature in relation to the topic and objectives of the study. The literature will be accessed from research findings, government agencies, and other organizations that had conducted studies on the same area. In addition, peer-reviewed journals such as Academic Search Premier, JSTOR and Business Source Premier will be helpful in exploring the topic under study. The technique employed in finding these journals, studies and information will include using key search words associated with the topic in the identified websites, and databases. Once the articles are accessed, they will be stratified with regard to the questions, which they address. Afterwards, analysis of the main themes will be conducted by relating the findings with the operations. Additionally, data from 3 consecutive census in juvenile correctional facilities will be employed in describing the performance of juvenile correctional facilities in terms of changed behavior as well as reducing the frequency of juvenile crimes. The results from this research are deemed to be helpful for various stakeholders such as administrators, policy makers, teachers and the government.
1.5 Sharing of Research Findings
Once the author is through with entering, and analyzing from the survey and other secondary information, the next step will be designing means of relaying the information to the intended audiences and stakeholders...