Dissertation Chapters 2 and 3

Running Head: RESEARCH PROJECT 1

RESEARCH PROJECT 11

African American Male Juvenile Rehabilitation versus Incarceration Punishment

Mia Lee

Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

The influx of African American male adolescents into the juvenile court system has generated a serious social problem. In the juvenile justice system, African American boys are the most overrepresented demographic (Voisin, Kim, Takahashi, Morotta & Bocanegra, 2017). The presence of African American male kids in the juvenile penal system has societal ramifications (Ryan, Williams& Courtney, 2013). These consequences include the possibility of absenteeism, drug abuse, and gang membership (Lucero, Barrett & Jensen, 2015). If those concerns are not addressed, there is a risk that the child offender may commit crimes as an adult, perhaps leading to more serious consequences (Barnette et al., 2015; Schlesinger, 2018).

When addressing juvenile delinquent treatment and punishment, there are two major principles to consider when considering the link between social justice and juvenile justice. Over the years, these two ideas have fueled a cycle of change in the juvenile justice system. While some claim that because juveniles are so young, they should receive therapy rather than punishment for their crime, punishment for juveniles who commit murder is preferable to treatment because some contend that they understood fully what they were doing. The purpose of this study paper is to explore the distinctions between juvenile rehabilitation and prison punishment for African American criminals. Juvenile rehabilitation and imprisonment among African Americans are not equal or up to societal norms and guidelines. The study concentrates on identifying the problem in terms of rehabilitation and incarceration and, as a result, changing and improving the way society views African Americans. The study attempts to follow the research in a variety of ways that include a knowledge of criminal justice and how African Americans fare throughout jail and rehabilitation. The research paper focuses on a societal issue; thus, it is critical to include and utilize, which is a significant benefit to the way they collect information.

Gap in Research Knowledge

Juvenile justice system engagement has been linked to delinquency or adolescent offending, drug abuse, poor mental health, and sexual risk behaviors, according to studies (Greene, Gabbidon & Wilson, 2018). Despite the fact that low-income African-American youth are disproportionately affected by these behavioral issues, few studies have looked into how juvenile justice system involvement and episodes of these adolescents may be linked to behavioral issues that lead to concerns about rehabilitation and incarceration (Greene, Gabbidon & Wilson, 2018). This study fills in the gaps by examining the extent to which juvenile justice system engagement and contacts are linked to a wide range of child behavioral and health issues, resulting in the justice system's decision to utilize rehabilitation or incarceration as a punishment option. Poor mental health, delinquency or juvenile offending, drug abuse, STI risk behaviors, and exposure to community violence are among concerns that low-income African American teenagers face.

Problem Statement

The problem addressed is how African American Male Juveniles do not get offered rehabilitation methods, but they get punished to serve incarceration time. This leads to higher recidivism rates because they do not have alternative resources. African male juveniles endure harsh incarnation punishment, which includes lengthy confinement in penal facilities (González, 2017). When people are released from prison and return to society, most of them engage in further criminal acts. It is not enough to punish offenders in order to keep them from engaging in criminal activity. To assist avoid repeat offenses, it is necessary to implement rehabilitative programs among convicts rather than imposing direct punishment.

African American Male Juvenile Rehabilitation vs. Incarceration Punishment is a contentious issue that several researchers are attempting to investigate. When juvenile offenders are put into the criminal justice system, the issue is whether they should be sent to serve their penalty automatically or whether there should be rehabilitative approaches that may be used to assist protect them from reoffending. When adolescent offenders are exposed to the criminal justice system or have their first encounter with law enforcement, this is when they leave their mark. Law enforcement authorities have now decided how they will react to and engage with them from now on. Unfortunately, not all youth have favorable contacts with law enforcement, which is why the study was conducted.

Overall Purpose

The study's goal is to determine the difference between juvenile rehabilitation and jail punishment among African American criminals. The purpose of this study article is to explore the distinctions between juvenile rehabilitation and prison punishment for African American criminals. Juvenile rehabilitation and imprisonment among African Americans are not equal or up to societal norms and guidelines.

The initiative focuses on identifying the problem in terms of rehabilitation and incarceration and, as a result, changing and improving the way society views African Americans. It is clear that the article will attempt to follow the study in a variety of ways that include a knowledge of criminal justice and how African Americans fare during jail and rehabilitation. The research paper focuses on a societal issue; thus, it is critical to include and utilize, which is a significant benefit to the way they collect information. The paper utilizes the qualitative research methodology which will help in providing social evidence and research into the issue which is beneficial to the way that they do connect and thus it is important to increase their interactions.

Research Question

1. What are the disparities between jail and youth rehabilitation for African American offenders?

2. What are the problems in terms of rehabilitation and incarceration useful for creating mitigating strategies of the social issue of African American juveniles?

Framework

According to the punishment theories, offenders are taken through the incarceration process to discourage them from getting involved in criminal activities. Incarceration exists to punish the offenders because they deserve the punishment (Donaldson, 2020). When considering the impacts of punishment, it does not reflect its purpose in offenders' lives but introducing rehabilitative programs proves to be more beneficial. Punishment is described as suffering, loss, pain, or any other consequence inflicted on a person by the relevant authorities for the offence. What individuals feel is acceptable in terms of criminal consequences is mainly governed by the ideology of punishment to which they subscribe. That is, individuals tend to agree with the punishment theory that is most likely to produce the outcome they feel is proper (Enns & Ramirez, 2018). This belief system concerning the goals of punishment frequently spills over into the political arena. Politics and incarceration policy are inextricably linked. Many of the changes in correctional policy experienced in the United States during this period reflected the political context of the moment.

Legislation should be used to improve society happiness, according to utilitarian philosophy. Because crime and punishment are incompatible with enjoyment, they should be maintained to a minimum. Utilitarians realize that there is no such thing as a crime-free society, but they try to inflict just the amount of punishment required to discourage future crimes (Enns & Ramirez, 2018). According to utilitarian philosophy, laws that define a penalty for illegal action should be intended to deter future criminal behavior. Deterrence is effective on both a small and large scale. The phrase "general deterrence" refers to the power of a penalty to dissuade others from doing criminal acts (Garland, 2018). The punishment serves as an example for the rest of society and a message to others that criminal behavior will be punished. Rehabilitation is another utilitarian argument for punishment. The goal of rehabilitation is to allow offenders to succeed within the confines of the law so that they do not commit crimes again (Garland, 2018). In most cases, rehabilitative interventions for criminal offenders involve treatment for mental illness, substance abuse, and recurring violent behavior. The use of educational programs to give offenders with the information and skills they need to engage in the labor market is also part of rehabilitation.

Nature of Study

The research mainly utilizes the descriptive research design that mainly focuses on helping to find and answer the how, what, where and when the issue takes place. The research is focusing to identify such questions before moving on to try and find out the why at the end. The descriptive research design is appropriate because it help make a right judgment that establishes a plan that make sure that they do interact and make sure that they do come up with the proper plans. It is important to use the descriptive research design because it focuses on trying to understand the reasons between the juvenile rehabilitation and incarceration punishment among the African American offenders. The design helps in building a proper plan that helps in getting the right answers that will help make sure that there is a direction of the research helping make sure that there are interactions and variances in the society which is vital for the research. The research focuses on the differences between the juvenile rehabilitation and incarceration whereby there is a major difference but there is something that is creating some inconsistencies in the society leading to major issues in the society.

Background

The criminal justice system provides services that ensure offenders do not participate in criminal activities when released into society. The system offers both direct punishment and rehabilitation services to the offenders (Donaldson, 2020). Rehabilitation provides a chance for individuals to learn about the cause of their problems, learn changes in behaviors, and eliminate the risk of committing a crime. Incarceration includes punishment as a way of correcting the offenders. Individuals taken through rehabilitation seem to show improved behaviors when released than those from incarceration.

Youths from the marginalized communities face the stress and disproportionate juvenile systems differently ac compared to youths from other communities. Even though there have been strides in the juvenile’s system due to improvements in rehabilitation and other policies, the length other stay of the African American male youths in confinement and the level of punishments when incarcerated exceeds what is stipulated on the policies. Therefore, this implies that African American male youths face tough incarceration punishments including having longer stays within the correction or punitive justice systems.

Violent offenders should be treated equally, and governments are always pragmatic towards the control of crimes; however, policies and individuals argue that tough punishments should be given to violent offenders as compared to nonviolent offenders. Many people argue that nonviolent offenders should be rehabilitated while violent offenders should face incarceration punishments. Such policies are more likely to affect African American male youths because, they are often associated with violent crimes. Therefore, they will face harsh punishments when incarcerated as compared to white male youths. This source will help in supporting my dissertation topic because it highlights the different perceptions towards offenders and varying degrees.

Many people hold that male black youths face tough punitive measures in incarceration facilities as compared to other races. More so, when they are taken into rehabilitation, chances of recidivism are higher. This is a vital source to develop my dissertation argument that juvenile rehabilitation and incarceration punishments for male Black youths are tough and harsher as compared to other races.

Treatment is where juveniles receive assistance. As an example, consider counseling. The author of the textbook Introduction to Juvenile Justice defines treatment as "a collection of acts or services aimed to rehabilitate or alter an individual" (Listwan, 2013, Ch. 10.2). "Juvenile offender treatment might involve a variety of activities such as group therapy, individual sessions, school-based interventions, and/or community mentorship programs" (Listwan, 2013, Ch. 10.2). Treatment can take place almost anyplace. It can happen in schools, households, prisons, or various community institutions (Listwan, 2013). Treatment is intended to aid in the rehabilitation of juveniles. Parole, life sentences, the death penalty, or a lengthy term are all options for punishment. Consider a sentence of over 25 years. Punishment would be more appropriate in this instance. As previously indicated, punishment can take the form of parole, life sentences, the death penalty, or a lengthy prison sentence. Some claim that because of their age, juveniles should not be treated as adults and should instead be treated as children.

References

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