Criminal justice
The most critical issues facing the juvenile system and their effects in the future
The juvenile justice system has made many positive transformations in the lives of millions of juveniles since its establishment. The juvenile justice system, however, has had many challenges in the past: juveniles’ mental issues, improving the set-up of confinement, equitable treatment for children of color, healthcare, security, and acquiring resources for successful programs, etc. Every year, more than two million children, youth and young adults, are officially engaged with the juvenile justice system. Out of these juveniles, most of them (65-70) % have at least a diagnosable mental health issue, and 20-25% have significant emotional challenges—more than two-thirds of the young people engaged with the juvenile justice system experience mental health issues. Most of them can be effectively dealt with and treated in the community set-up instead of the juvenile justice system (Decker & Marteache, 2017).
The mental issues experience by the juveniles are a result of the trauma of walking into the courtroom, something that judges are aware of. Instead of alleviating them from stressful conditions, the judges continue to traumatize these young adults leading to mental issues. Children in some juvenile justice systems, are handcuffed and chained regularly, which is very traumatizing for them. The problem is people in these institutions do not understand that they are dealing with kids, i.e., the ages of ten, twelve, fourteen, and sixteen, which is a reality. The juvenile justice system should be in a better position to comprehend their trauma, therefore, understanding how to treat them. A god example is dealing with an eleven-year-old who has witnessed relatives beaten, shot, and killed. These are ultimate levels of trauma, and the judges should be coached in the entire juvenile court system and how to appropriately interact with the juveniles. The judges should also assist them in dealing with the mental issues and correctly understanding it. The minors need to be treated with (Galatians 5:22-23), But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things, there is no law. Therefore the juvenile justice system can not claim that they mean well for the young people when they continue to put them through stressful situations and not dealing with their mental issues (Decker & Marteache, 2017).
Despite the majority of juveniles being housed in institutions within the state’s standards, local fire, safety, and sanitary scrutiny, most of them do not adhere to these regulations. Many facilities do not have the fire escape routes adequately marked. This site indicates that state and local fire codes need vigorous reinforcement to cater to the safety of the juveniles. Forty-two percent of the confined juveniles were housed in institutions that do not allow them to receive incoming calls. The juvenile¿es also experience room searches and frisks, and some of them even go the extend of strip searches. Such conditions only worsen the experience of juveniles in the juvenile justice system facilities. The health and how youths are being treated should change to realize the value of being locked transformed into better people. Proverbs 29:21 he who pampers his slave from childhood will, in the end, find him to be a son. (Decker & Marteache, 2017).
There are disparities in the degree of engagement of the minority youth, specifically the black youth, compared to the white child in the juvenile justice system. The presence of such disparities raise the question concerning the essential fairness and equality of conduct of these juveniles by the police, law-courts, and other individuals related to the juvenile justice system. Studies and universal laws on race, crime, and the management of justice in the United States result from the processes that are used. Biasness among the decision-makers continues to persist in the juvenile justice system. Such social injustices within the juvenile justice system highly contribute t the degree of crimes committed bu these young people. The number of blacks in the juvenile justice system is higher than their binary number in the general population. The human race is God’s creation despite the different races and ethnicities. At some point, there was unity, but currently, relationships among the various races, including the juvenile justice system, are complicated. Genesis 1:17 shows that we all originated from one mother, i.e., Eve, but we see in which is disobedience against God. I tend to believe that skin color originated from Noah’s sons, but humankind should still learn to appreciate one another by being loyal to God’s teachings. Embracing the Christ of Christ, which does not have differences in skin color and ethnicities, will ensure that all juveniles are treated fairly and equally in the juvenile justice system (Goshe, 2019).
Issues concerning the juvenile justice system are due to individuals’ young people, the impact of peer groups, family related issues, school, and their residence. The specific causes consist of hyperactivity and attention deficit condition; engagement in dangerous behavior, lack of empathy, limited level of intelligence, lack of self-control behaviors, etc. such tough people do not have a personal relationship with God; therefore, engaging in crime. According to studies, religious juveniles engage in limited offenses compared to the non-religious age-mates—the fear od Gods’ shift and the notion that committing an offense contradicts spirituality explain such behavior. The conflicting incidences resulting from such consciousness occur in feelings of shame when engaging in offensive behavior. Participating in a religious group develops, loyalty, devotion to specific and secular practices, and rituals and partnerships that are religious. Such social and spiritual perspectives are essential in reducing criminal behavior among young people (Goshe, 2019).
Issues of health and security in the juvenile justice system are of much concern. I am scared that the legalization of marijuana will have a significant negative impact on around the country concerning juveniles. The majority of children who use heroin have been using marijuana before. However, the use of marijuana does not indicate that youth will start using heroin, but it is leeway for other vices, which can result in other things. According to science, our brains do not fully develop up to almost the age of 25. Therefore children that are below the age of 8 are not in any capacity to use any drug. Accessing marijuana is simpler; consequently, the laws and regulations for their sales and impact on juvenile health should not be loosened. The juveniles’ use of such drugs fact their health due to overdose because they are not aware of how to manage them. The impact of such challenges on the juvenile justice system is that the majority of youth will continue to have mental issues; the rise of gangs, drugs, and guns will continue to be a social challenge. The juveniles will continue to use drugs, thus, affecting their general health. The issues concerning the juvenile justice system, if not dealt with, are likely to increase young offenders and significantly to impact their families and communities at large (Goshe, 2019).
Some ways the juvenile system can be revitalized
A system of care should be developed that pays attention to meeting the juveniles’ mental health and associated needs in the juvenile justice system. It can be through extensive community-based services and supports. Doing so will ensure that we can understand the unique challenges facing the juveniles in the juvenile justice system. We will also be able to deal with the various issues through planned and effective programs, robust interagency collaboration, and consistent funding (Bowser, Henry & Wasserman, 2018). The installation of religious values in juveniles at a young age that will be passed from one generation to another will reduce crimes in minors. Corinthians 6:19-20 Do you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you received from God? You are not your own: you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. It will enable the juveniles to live a moral life according to Christ’s teachings.
References
Decker, S. H., & Marteache, N. (Eds.). (2017). International handbook of juvenile justice. Springer.
Goshe, S. (2019). The lurking punitive threat: The philosophy of necessity and challenges for reform. Theoretical Criminology, 23(1), 25-42.
Bowser, D., Henry, B. F., Wasserman, G. A., Knight, D., Gardner, S., Krupka, K., … & Robertson, A. (2018). Journal of Applied Juvenile Justice Services.