Final essay

Navigating Variability and Equity: Juvenile Justice Systems and LGBT+ Youth Treatment Name of Student Course Name of Professor University Date Navigating Variability and Equity: Juvenile Justice Systems and LGBT+ Youth Treatment The juvenile justice system is the major system that tackles juvenile delinquency, which is the means to rehabilitate a child and aid children to reintegrate into society (Blackmon et al., 2016). However, the system’s performance in different regions, such as the suburban, rural, and urban areas, is not always the same (Singer & Drakulich, 2019). Not to mention that this case differs between heterosexual and homosexual youths in that the former are given different treatment from the latter (Watson et al., 2024). This essay aims to explore the discrepancies in the interactions of LGBT+ youth with their peers who are not aligned with the LGBT+ and the specific factors determining the experience patterns of the LGBT+ peers. Through considering these elements, the thesis points to the evaluation of problems that go together with the juvenile justice system and LGBT+ youth while in these systems, which is essential to ensure justice, equality, and good results for all young people in the juvenile justice system. Juvenile Justice Systems. Juvenile Justice Systems Variability in Juvenile Justice Systems Blackmon et al. (2016) focused on the demographic characteristics of the youth justice system as one of the important factors, taking note of race, gender, economic situation, school attendance, and any previous interaction with the justice system. The study shows that the chances of being in the juvenile justice system depend on these factors; rural youth are more likely than urban youth to be in the system. Meaningfulness of Differences The differences in the suburban, rural, and urban juvenile justice systems are significant, resulting from each region’s sociodemographic and cultural landscapes. Blackmon et al. (2016) mention that rural young people have higher chances of juvenile justice contacts, which means that rural communities have unique difficulties and risk factors that call for specifically designed interventions. Moreover, the wide range of restorative justice (RJ) practices presented by Leavy-Skinner (2019) indicates that juvenile justice reform is a never-ending process. Although the principles and evidence-based practices are the same, the implementation and effectiveness of these practices are different, which shows that flexibility and adaptation to local needs are necessary. The sociological reasons for the differences are group identity, societal pressure, and social standards. Many sociological factors cause the differences in the juvenile justice system. Demographic disparities, such as race, gender, and socioeconomic status, as seen by Lori et al. (2010), determine the likelihood of a young person getting involved in the juvenile justice system. Apart from that, the features of the community, like access to resources, social support networks, and cultural norms, influence how juveniles react to juvenile delinquency in specific areas. The major causes of the differences in justice practices are the organization's complexity and the politicization of the juvenile justice process. Decision-making processes, stakeholder involvement, and resource allocation may differ in every institutional structure and political climate. Thus, the youth’s outcomes in the justice system will be affected. Treatment of LGBT+ Youth Compared to Non-LGBT+ Peers The way of handling the LGBT+ youth in the juvenile justice system, which is being treated like a minor, is a topic that has gained more attention in recent years. The following essay is about the contrast of the treatment of LGBT+ youth with that of their non-LGBT+ peers, looking at the commonalities, the dissimilarities, and the contribution of th...