Restorative Justice: Juvenile and Adult Justice System
Write a 1,500-word paper that includes the following:
Juvenile Justice System (500 words)
Identify one well-publicized crime committed by a juvenile in your community for which a restorative justice approach would have been more appropriate than the punitive approach that was used. Explain why.
Explain how you would apply a restorative justice approach to the case. Be sure to include the following:
Strategies to ensure that the offender provides accountability to the victim and the community
Programs and services to rehabilitate the offender
Adult Justice System (500 words)
Identify one well-publicized crime committed by an adult in your community for which a restorative justice approach would have been more appropriate than the punitive approach that was used. Explain why.
Explain how you would apply a restorative justice approach to the case. Be sure to include the following:
Strategies to ensure that the offender provides accountability to the victim and the community
Programs and services to rehabilitate the offender
Conclusion (500 words)
Describe challenges you would encounter when implementing a restorative justice approach in the juvenile and adult cases you addressed. Then explain how you would overcome the challenges.
Explain the degree to which the application of a restorative justice approach is similar or different in the juvenile and adult justice systems.
Explain the benefits of restorative justice in the juvenile and adult cases compared to the punitive approach that was used.
Be sure to reference the course readings to support your responses.
Learning Resources:
Bouffard, J., Cooper, M., & Bergseth, K. (2017). The effectiveness of various restorative justice interventions on recidivism outcomes among juvenile offendersLinks to an external site.. Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice, 15(4), 465–480.
Centre for Justice and Reconciliation. (2019c). Lesson 5: Implementation issues.Links to an external site. In Tutorial: Introduction to restorative justice.
Gerkin, P., Walsh, J., Kuilema, J., & Borton, I. (2017). Implementing restorative justice under the retributive paradigm: A pilot program case studyLinks to an external site.. SAGE Open, 7(1), 1–10.
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. (n.d.-e). Case studies that demonstrate change toward a balanced and restorative justice model.Links to an external site. In Guide for implementing the balanced and restorative justice model
Suzuki, M., & Wood, W. R. (2018). Is restorative justice conferencing appropriate for youth offenders? Criminology & Criminal Justice, 18Links to an external site.(4), 450–467.
Walden University, LLC. (Producer). (2019). Restorative justice applications [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.
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Restorative Justice for a Case of a Juvenile Delinquent
The Case
This pertains to the case of Jayden Myrick, who, at the age of 14, was taken into custody for an incident involving the robbery of a woman on the southern side of Atlanta. Subsequently, Jayden entered into a negotiated plea agreement, resulting in a sentencing of 15 years, of which seven years were designated for service within the adult correctional system (Judd, 2019).
This case gained significant public attention when the juvenile, at the age of 17, was involved in a grave criminal incident, including charges of murder, armed robbery, and participation in criminal gang activity. It is noteworthy, however, that we shall emphasize his earlier case at 14, as the judicial authorities emphasized the relevance of prior offenses to the current charges (Judd, 2019).
Restorative Versus Punitive Approach
The utilization of a restorative justice approach, as opposed to the punitive methodology employed in Jayden Myrick's case, might have been better suited for several compelling reasons:
Firstly, there should be age and developmental considerations. Given Jayden's age of 14 at the time of the incident, it is crucial to acknowledge that adolescents are in a critical development phase. They may be more receptive to interventions that delve into the root causes of their behavior, fostering opportunities for rehabilitation and personal growth (Suzuki & Wood, 2018). Restorative justice places particular emphasis on comprehending the needs of young offenders and facilitating their rehabilitation (Wilson et al., 2018).
Secondly, restorative justice underscores the concept of individuals being held accountable for their deeds as they actively participate in constructive dialogues with both victims and the affected community. This procedure can facilitate a deepened understanding of the harm caused and nurture genuine remorse and responsibility, which punitive measures might be challenging to instill (U.S. Department of Justice, n.d.).
Lastly, restorative justice centers its approach around victims, giving paramount importance to their requirements and viewpoints. In Jayden's situation involving the victim of the robbery, an application of restorative principles could have offered her a platform for articulating her emotions, seeking elucidation, and conceivably achieving a sense of closure through an organized discourse with Jayden. This approach empowers victims and facilitates their proactive engagement in the process of resolution (Wemmers et al., 2023).
Practical Application of Restorative Justice
Restorative justice challenges law enforcement, judges, and lawyers to adopt a novel perspective—one that many of them may