Juvenile Incarceration and State Secret Privilege Project

FINAL PROJECT
By
Institution:
Date:
Juvenile Incarceration and State Secret Privilege
Juvenile incarceration and state secret privilege are some of the controversial systems in the United States justice systems that have remained controversial for many years. The first involves rehabilitation of youth criminal offenders while the latter involves the government throwing out cases in courts touching on ‘government secrets’. The annotations are articulated to my topic albeit inclined towards finding a better solution to youth incarceration in the US through reducing juvenile recidivism and crime rate; and providing expert views on the use of state secret privilege.
Piquero, A. R., & Steinberg, L. (2010). Public Preferences for Rehabilitation Versus Incarceration Of Juvenile Offenders. Journal of Criminal Justice, 38(1), 1-6.
Piquero and Steinberg conducted a study to uncover the public opinion on youth incarceration. In this journal, the aim was to establish the public preference on whether children should be incarcerated or rehabilitated. The research was designed to cover four extensive states with different demographic qualities and political orientation. The methodology was designed to uncover the public standpoint in matters youth incarceration and how they perceive corrective facilities about their taxes. The study uncovered that public interest on youth incarceration is influenced by their tax that goes into rehabilitation of young offenders. If rehabilitation is cheaper, the public becomes inclined to choose rehabilitation over incarceration and not based on the outcome of the correctional facilities. Pegging efficacy of correctional facilities on the direct impact on resources of the study sample showed that the public is not ready to embrace reforms that could lead to lesser crime by juveniles if it eats into their resources.
Hsu, C. (2012, May 8). 'Cold-Hearted' Psychopaths Are Born with Distinct Brains, Existing Treatments May Be Useless. Retrieved from /: /cold-hearted-psychopaths-are-born-distinct-brains-existing-treatments-may-be-useless-240366
Research has shown some people have been born more aggressive and thus they are likely to commit a crime for the slightest provocation. It is a phenomenon branded ‘warrior gene,’ and sociologists relate it to juvenile delinquency. Studies show that brains of psychopaths are structurally different. Consequently, the overt behavior of born criminals overcomes nurture principle. Nature takes precedence in defining the character of the person and therefore incarceration is sure way of protecting the public from such individuals. In the article, the need to weed out the socially unfit individuals is a process that nets even the juveniles to maintain the social order. The efforts to rehabilitate individuals are futile as the distinctive characteristics of their brains are wired to commit crimes and therefore, the best alternative is incarceration to reduce the interaction of such individuals with the public. This article, therefore, offers insightful information on why youth incarceration is justifiable.
BIBLIOGRAPHY \l 1033 Carlson, K. A., & Maike, M. M. (2013). Educating Juveniles in Adult Jails: A Program Guide. Maike Associates.
Carlson and Maike have confronted the harsh reality of youth incarceration in the USA and recommended various methods the existing legal framework could help young offenders to enter the society and reduce recidivism. Their book recommends how the correctional facilities officers could help juveniles in their care to re-enter the society and live a normal life. The book relevance is necessary since many adult correctional facilities in the US today have accommodated children and the authors sought to use the system to their advantage and ensure lower recidivism. The guide serves as an outline for appropriate educational programs that could have a lasting better result while awaiting legal amendments that would lift the punitive measures and impose rehabilitative measures for juveniles in the US. The guide is inclined to having young offenders pay for their crimes while ensuring they are nurtured to be responsible and productive individuals as they enter the society.
BIBLIOGRAPHY \l 1033 Howell, J. C. (2009). Preventing and Reducing Juvenile Delinquency: A Comprehensive Framework. SAGE.
Howell has compiled the latest research findings and recommendations on juvenile delinquency to publish a book that provides a wealth of information on the most effective programs for preventing and controlling juvenile delinquency. The book contains the history of juvenile incarceration in the US and the changes that have been done to the legal structure to curb the issue. The book has also applied developmental theories to understand how juvenile offenders’ careers evolve. The book has created a solid, comprehensive framework for designing and implementing a continuum of effective programs. The book has targeted the adult correctional facilities’ officers who at times run into juveniles in their line of duty to devise ways to reduce juvenile recidivism. It is a great material to consider when changing the existing punitive measures to curb juvenile delinquency as it offers practical methods that could bear better results with higher efficacy of required resources needed to keep a juvenile in an adult correctional facility.
MatsudaK.N (2009) The Impact of Incarceration on Young Offenders: Irvine. University of California 
Matsuda is an experienced scholar in criminal justice system inthe USA and its corresponding impact it as on the offenders and the society at large. In this dissertation, she sought to find out how the judicial systems in America differentiate a juvenile from an adult when handling young offenders’ cases and their corresponding impact on recidivism. She also finds out on what importation and deprivation factors predict the recommitment of young offenders and if there existgraded age differences that explain future behavior. In her study, he opines that the public favors youth incarceration for their crimes. The public opinion seems to be pegged on personal experiences that arise from recommitment after incarceration. The public opinion also seems to incline to the rehabilitation of juveniles rather than incarceration in adult facilities if they are found to be likely to avoid recommitment. The Deprivation Development Theory featured in this research posits that pro-youth incarceration is more likely to hinder the transition to adulthood and less likely to achieve the goal of recidivism.
Piquero, A. R., & Steinberg, L. (2010). Public Preferences For Rehabilitation Versus IncarcerationOf Juvenile Offenders. Journal of Criminal Justice, 38(1), 1-6.
Piquero and Steinberg conducted a study to uncover the public opinion on youth incarceration. In this journal, the aim was to establish the public preference on whether children should be incarcerated or rehabilitated. The research was designed to cover four extensive states with different demographic qualities and political orientation. The methodology was designed to uncover the public standpoint in matters youth incarceration and how they perceive corrective facilities about their taxes. The study uncovered that public interest on youth incarceration is influenced by their tax that goes into rehabilitation of young offenders. If rehabilitation is cheaper, the public becomes inclined to choose rehabilitation over incarceration and not based on the outcome of the correctional facilities. Pegging efficacy of correctional facilities on the direct impact on resources of the study sample showed that the general public is not ready to embrace reforms that could lead to lesser crime by juveniles if it eats into their resources.
Schwartz, I. M., Guo, S., &Kerbs, J. J. (1993). The Impact Of Demographic Variables On Public Opinion Regarding Juvenile Justice: Implications For Public Policy. Crime& Delinquency, 39(1), 5-28.
In this study, Ira M. Schwartz sought to investigate the public standpoint on the punitive juvenile justice system in the USA. The researchers had a methodology that was designed to explore the relationship between demographic variables and opinions towards trying juveniles in adult courts. The study also delved further to the corresponding sentences given to young offenders and their incarceration in adult correctional facilities. The research showed that majority of the respondents favored trying juveniles in adult courts and sentencing them to adult prisons especially for serious felonies. The research also showed that African -American parents preferred punitive juvenile justice system than any other racial or ethnic group. It is a startling finding although Blacks are the majority youth offenders serving in various state and federal prisons for various felonies. The punitive juvenile justice system is depicted to be widely approved for serious felonies rather than alternative rehabilitation programs that could reduce recidivism or juvenile delinquency at large.
BIBLIOGRAPHY \l 1033 Talbot, J. C. (2008, March 29). The Punitive Mind-Set and Its Consequences. Retrieved from http://ezinearticles.com: http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Punitive-Mind-Set-and-Its-Consequences&id=1076462
Talbot defends the juvenile judicial system in the USA by articulating that punitive measures are better that rehabilitation, as all offenders must be held accountable for their actions irrespective of their age. He asserts that humans are social and any threat to the social order is a personal disposition and an obvious sign that he/she cannot conform to the social order. Incarceration of youths is, therefore, in the best interest of maintaining that social order. The emotional burden harbored by some members of the society is unwavering and will pursue their goals of inflicting pain and victimizing more people if left within the society. To accurately address their overly maligned behavior, they ought to serve jail terms to avoid victimizing more people of threatening the social order. Talbot openly dismisses the idea of rehabilitation and depicts it as a vehicle of condoning felonies to live within the society shortly after they are given a chance to reflect on the harm they caused the society.
Hsu, C. (2012, May 8). 'Cold-Hearted' Psychopaths Are Born with Distinct Brains, Existing Treatments May Be Useless. Retrieved from /: /cold-hearted-psychopaths-are-born-distinct-brains-existing-treatments-may-be-useless-240366
Research has shown some people have been born more aggressive and thus they are likely to commit a crime for the slightest provocation. It is a phenomenon branded ‘warrior gene, ’ and sociologists relate it to juvenile delinquency. Studies show that brains of psychopaths are structurally different. Consequently, the overt behavior of born criminals overcomes nurture principle. Nature takes precedence in defining the character of the person and therefore incarceration is sure way of protecting the public from such individuals. In the article, the need to weed out the socially unfit individuals is a process that nets even the juveniles to maintain the social order. The efforts to rehabilitate individuals are futile as the distinctive characteristics of their brains are wired to commit crimes and therefore, the best alternative is incarceration to reduce the interaction of such individuals with the public. This article, therefore, offers insightful information on why youth incarceration is justifiable.
Currie, E. (2013). Crime and Punishment in America. Picador.
Currie is a renowned criminologist who has vast experience and knowledge in American judicial system. In this book, Currie focuses on the punitive system in America and the corresponding effects it has on the offenders. In matters concerning youth offenders, he describes the judicial system as ineffective in reducing recidivism. He has offered a well-articulated critique of the existent policies regarding the juvenile judicial system in the USA and the likely reasons it has not been very effective; he has also suggested various developments in criminal justice that could lead the path to a more peaceful and just society. In his findings through scientific research, he makes compelling assertions that he argues form a solid judicial frame to rethink the way imprisonment is carried out in years to come. He pegs his ideas on instituting facilities to rehabilitate young offenders showing that they are a better correctional measure than incarceration. The book is insightful on alternative correctional measures and procedures that a more effective and reduce recidivism in the long run.
Marcovitz, H. (2011). Should Juveniles be Tried as Adults?Referencepoint Press.
Marcowitz has authored a detailed account of juvenile judicial system and how the system has evolved since its inception. His book has featured different research findings, sociological and psychological experts, law enforcement officers to give a comprehensive verdict on the controversial issue of juvenile delinquency. He has cited few landmark cases with their corresponding facts to illustrate how the judicial system has handled juvenile cases especially on hardcore felonies like rape and murder. His approach to issues of juvenile trials shows that he advocates for a different approach to avoid recidivism. He has gone further to challenge the trying juveniles as adults citing that it undermines the fundamental principle of fair trial. He has asserted that age and brain development factors are non-disjunctive factors in trying young offenders. Later in his book, he has featured ways he opines are better corrective measures for young offenders and advocates for their adoption.
Junger-Tas, J., & Dünkel, F. (2009). Reforming Juvenile Justice. Springer Science & Business Media.
The authors have tackled the controversial issues in juvenile justice and suggested practical resolutions address them. In this book, the authors have also featured the issue of age groups that can the classified as an adult felony and tried as such. He has delved into the fundamental characteristics and physical attributes of juveniles in such age groups and published how such factors influence their mental and moral development. He has also featured the effects of adult correctional measures and its prevalence to recidivism and reconviction for the same or different crimes. In an attempt to suggest valid resolutions for the system, the authors have featured different expert opinions and advice on how to restructure the juvenile judicial system to be more effective and reduce juvenile delinquency. The authors of the book advocate pro-rehabilitation rather than incarceration. The rehabilitative methods should also be reinvented to reflect societal exp...