Please respond to the following TWO discussion responses with at least 500 words, Each reply must incorporate at least 2 scholarly citation(s) in current APA format. Any sources cited must have been published within the last five years. Acceptable

Please respond to the following TWO discussion responses with at least 500 words, Each reply must incorporate at least 2 scholarly citation(s) in current APA format. Any sources cited must have been published within the last five years. Acceptable
sources include the textbooks (readings provided), and the Bible.

ORIGINALQUESTION: You will include in your assessment the assumptions you think are related to these programs, if these assumptions are justified, and your rationale as to why the public doesn’t support diversion programs. The purpose of this assignment will give you the opportunity to apply the Learn material in a meaningful essay application. Your essay discusses some of the assumptions you believe are basic to delinquency prevention and diversion programs. To what extent do you feel each of these assumptions are justified? Why do you believe that the public is often unwilling to finance these prevention programs and what are the consequences of this?

1) Aaron Andrew- Community corrections, also termed community-based corrections, is a sentencing style that depends less on the traditional confinement options and more on correctional resources available in the community (Schmalleger, 2019, p. 399). Before the creation of the juvenile justice system, juvenile offenders stood before the same judges which overseen adult criminal offenders, and these judges sentenced juvenile offenders in the same manner of adult offenders. Juvenile courts have come a long way since the days of trying juvenile offenders alongside adult offender in criminal courts. Before the modern era children who committed crimes in the Western world received no preferential treatment because of their youth (Schmalleger, 2019, p. 516). These differences may be due to the system’s relative newness and to the fact that society agrees that young people who have gone wrong are worth salvaging (Schmalleger, 2019, p. 516).

Probation, one aspect of community corrections, is “a sentence served while under supervision in the community (Schmalleger, 2019, p. 399). American John Augustus, a Boston shoemaker, attended sessions of criminal court in the 1850s and offered to take carefully selected offenders into his home as an alternative to imprisonment (Schmalleger, 2019, p. 399).

Types of probation

Being found guilty in a juvenile criminal court proceeding does not automatically means that you will go to jail or prison the new purpose within the juvenile justice system is to find at risk juveniles and provide treatment in the form of rehabilitation. Most juveniles would benefit from rehabilitation at home verse being in confinement. It was later determined that juvenile offenders would benefit from rehabilitation done through community corrections such as intensive supervision probation, shock probation, school-based probation, house arrest and electronic monitoring. Dr. Vincent Giordano, (2022) mentioned the following types of diversion programs:

• Intensive supervision probation: Based on a philosophy of risk control. Requires a comprehensive effort. Comprising highly structured supervision and a broad array of treatment alternatives.
• Shock probation: Considered unique among correctional strategies. This involves shocking the offender by placing them into an institutionally facility and then released the youth on probation.
• School based probation: a model where the probation officer worked and his house within the walls of the school.
• House arrest and electronic monitoring: House arrest involves confining juveniles in their homes when they are not at school or undergoing treatment. Electronic monitoring restricts the juvenile through the use of an electronic tracking device.

Justification of diversion programs

Advocates of community corrections portrayed prisons as the dehumanizing, claiming that they further victimize offenders who had already been negatively labeled by society (Schmalleger, 2019, p. 439). Diversion programs have been known to be less cost effective than confinement in a juvenile facility, and juvenile in diversion programs, are less like to recidivate. Diversion programs may confront and prevent juveniles from individuals and environmental risk, Sherman & Jacobs (2011), concluded, the multiple individual and environmental risk that youth experience both before and after incarceration have been well documented by the literature on juvenile delinquency (p. 246). Steinberg et al., 2004 concluded that some of the risk which may affect incarcerated juveniles are, poor school performance, mental health problems, unstable and unsupportive family, relationships, high crime and poverty rates within their communities, absence of positive role models. And abundance of delinquent influence. However, a juvenile that is assigned to a diversion program will have to undergo compliance, Dr. Vincent Giordano (2022) mentioned juvenile on probation may have to meet certain criteria:

• Attend school regularly
• Attend work regularly
• Do not use alcohol and drugs
• Submit to random drug screening
• Check in with probation officer regularly
• Attend special counseling or treatment

Public opinion of diversion programs

Citizen may take on a double stance when it comes to incarcerating juveniles. Many people want justice to be served, and to see criminal punished for the criminal acts, but worry about the negative effects of being incarcerated and dealing with the crime within the prison community. However, the philosophy that underlines the juvenile justice system in America is increasingly being questioned by “get-tough” advocates of law and order many of whom are fed with violent juvenile crime (Schmalleger, 2019, p. 516). Juveniles that are reentered into society must then adjust to society after being incarcerated, adapting to a new set of rules and regulations. The transition of formerly incarcerated youth back to their communities often poses a significant challenge for those communities (Sherman & Jacobs, 2011, p. 245). Cox et al., (2017) mention, as a result, the public is frequently hesitant to finance prevention programs because they have no immediately visible payoffs. In fact, it may be that diversion programs simply do not work either because the concept is flawed or because the current system does not provide an opportunity for them to work. Some see diversion as an interesting concept with “unanticipated negative consequences” (Mays & Winfree, 2000, p. 116) (p. 279). People must be educated on the advantages and disadvantages all programs associated with the juvenile justice system. By doing this they have a border understanding for the programs which are designed to rehabilitate at-risk offenders and prevent the labeling of juvenile offenders. Programs oriented toward reforming society have been quite costly in terms of the results produced, depending on whether results are measured in terms of alleviating educational, occupational, and economic difficulties or in terms of reducing delinquency (Cox et al. 2017, p. 279).

Christian worldview

The Holy bible is filled with parables which would constitute moments which individuals were under some form of probation and based on the reading and understanding of the Holy bible we are all on probation with God as we speak. We are given a choice and chance every morning. Instead of being on probation, we are under Gods grace and mercy which is made new every day. Hebrews 4:16 Lets therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need (p. 2496).

Conclusion

There are many challenges within society still today dealing with juveniles and the juvenile justice system. In some community’s law enforcement official will view a juvenile act of delinquency as boys being boys, and in some jurisdictions law enforcement would consider the same act as a crime. Diversion programs are not designed to help juveniles avoid punishment but trying to allow juveniles a second chance to learn and grow into productive men and women within society. Some people never receive, that second chance or helping hand. I am a strong advocate for early intervention for our at-risk youth, who strongly favor diversion programs for minor offenses. If there was more funding towards diversion programs, the incarceration rates will slowly decrease and more juveniles good receive the individual treatment which they need to fit their individual need for the juvenile and the family support system.

Reference

Cox, S. M., Allen, J. M., & Hanser, R. D. (2017). Juvenile Justice: A Guide to Theory, Policy, and Practice (9th Edition). SAGE Publications, Inc. (US). https://mbsdirect.vitalsource.com/books/9781506349022

Giordano, V., (2022), Helms School of Government, Online

Holy Bible (2012), King James Bible, King James Version Study bible, Zondervan

Schmalleger, F., (2019), Criminal justice today, An introductory text for the 21st century, Fifth edition

Sherman, F. T. & Jacobs, F. H., (2011) Juvenile Justice, Advancing research, policy, and practice

2) Ja’Tyra Smith- Through out the years, there has been a number of programs aimed at delinquency prevention and diversion. Some have been successful at achieving their main goal, while others were not very effective. There have been a few assumptions I believe are basic to delinquency prevention and diversion programs. These assumptions causes issues and prevents the juveniles from getting the help and treatment that is needed to alter their delinquency lifestyle.

To begin with, one assumption that is made in regards to the effectiveness of prevention and diversion programs is that many people do not believe such programs will be successful if the juvenile has problems amongst family, school, and their peers (Cox et al., 2022). In addition, the individuals who believe this also do not think recreational activity programs are truly beneficial at combating delinquency. These people think the success of such programs is based on faith rather than facts (Cox et al., 2022). There is no hope for a positive outcome as a result of prevention and diversion programs with people who already have their minds made that the programs will not be beneficial.

Another assumption that interferes with prevention and diversion programs being effective methods for delinquency is, programs that unintentionally label youths as juvenile delinquents even before entering the juvenile justice system (Cox et al., 2022). There are individual treatment programs that targets youths who are heading down a path towards delinquency. While this seems like a good program since they are dealing with the individual prior to becoming a delinquent, the individual still gets placed in the delinquency category by the court system. In Colossians 3:21, it tells us not to provoke the child or they will become discouraged. This verse can be implied to unintentionally labeling the youth before they even commit their first crime. By labeling the youth as a delinquent early on, they may get discouraged to do better and own up to that label as a delinquent.

Prevention and diversion programs are only successful in communities that needs them the least, is also a basic assumption regarding delinquency (Cox et al., 2022). Within these types of communities, the child is doing pretty well in school and has a decent relationship with family. Prevention and diversion programs are believed to be less successful in communities where there is a strain the family dynamic and where drugs, crime, and violence are more common (Cox et al., 2022). It becomes baffling because the crime infested, urban areas need the programs the most so that the child can create a better life outside of their current environment.

With the assumptions previously mentioned and many more out there, I do believe to some extent, these are justified. Prevention and diversion programs are aimed at the reform of society and individual treatment (Cox et al., 2022). The majority of these programs take an extensive amount of time to produce effective results. People become impatient and in that case do not wait around to see the end results. All they see if the youth participating in these programs and the parents and personnel being hopeful that the program will be beneficial to the individuals. I also believe the assumption that such programs are less successful in crime and drug infested communities is justified. In these areas, by the time the child enters school and are chosen to receive help, it is too late. We as humans learn by association and our environment (Snipes et al., 2019). These youths in low income urban areas, most of the time do not have a stable family structure and have already been exposed or seen the drug and crime issues in their neighborhood.

The public is often unwilling to finance these prevention programs for a number of reasons. For starters, prevention and diversion programs can be costly. For programs that are not guaranteed to produce consistent results this can be a red flag to the public. Another issue is the lack of coordination and duplication (Cox et al., 2022). Many of the programs are not well organized. There are also too many of the same program within a small radius that are not making drastic changes. Lastly, there tend to be a lot of inter-program jealousy and mismanagement (Cox et al., 2022). This results in programs not achieving the goal. In situations like this, money sometimes is not going to the program but instead, to the salaries of staff (Cox et al., 2022).

The consequences that results when the public is unwilling to finance prevention programs due to issues that can be avoided, is the youth do not receive the help that is owed to them. The rate of delinquency increases and more delinquency problems occur. Over the years, there have been several successful prevention and diversion programs that needs to be brought to attention. The PATHS program is designed to help both students and parents (Cox et al., 2022). The program has been successful at reducing delinquent behavior and assisting in teaching the adolescent to have more self-control. Take Charge of Your Life is a program that also has produced positive results. Research on this program shows it has been effective for individuals who are at risk for substance abuse (Cox et al., 2022). Other programs including, the GREAT program, truancy reduction, and the presence of school resource officers can be classified as beneficial for the prevention of delinquency.

In conclusion, prevention and diversion programs can be very beneficial to the prevention of delinquency. We, as people, have to learn patience and give the programs time enough to have an effective. These programs are needed and can help decrease the delinquency rate in the United States. All hands on deck are required if we want to be successful in combating delinquency.

Cox, S.M., Allen, J.M., Hanser, R.D., & Conrad, J.J. (2022). Juvenile justice: A guide to theory,
policy, and practice. SAGE Publications, Inc.

King James Version Holy Bible. (2001). Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

Snipes, J.B., Bernard, T.J., & Gerould, A.L. (2019). Vold’s Theoretical Criminology (8th ed.).
Oxford University Press.

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