Chapter 1 of dissertation

Abstract

The research paper focuses on identifying the differences that exists between the juvenile rehabilitation and incarceration punishment among African-American offenders. It is evident that juvenile rehabilitation and incarceration among African Americans is not equal and up to the standards and recommendations of the society. The paper will focus on helping identify the problem in terms of the rehabilitation and incarceration and in turn helping change and improve the way that the society looks at the African Americans. It is evident that the paper will try to follow the research through a varied manner that involves the understanding of the criminal justice and how the African Americans fare through incarceration and rehabilitation. The research paper focuses on a social issue thus it is important to incorporate and utilize which is a major advantage to the way that they do collect information. The paper will utilize 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. The adoption of the qualitative research method helps in the inclusion of the descriptive research design which will help in breaking down information that is relevant and interactive on the literature. It is important to acknowledge that the research will benefit from data collection methods that include focus groups, observations, questionnaires and interviews that will help in interacting with a wider group of people that is beneficial to the formation of the research. The research will help shade some light on the sensitive social issue “juvenile rehabilitation and incarceration of African Americans” which will help push for change in the society.

Problem Statement

The problem that will be 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 youths face brutal incarnation punishment that includes spending a long time in correctional services (González, 2017). When the individuals are released back into society from incarceration punishment, most of them get involved in other criminal activities. It is not enough to provide punishment to the offenders to prevent them from getting involved in criminal activities. To help prevent the offenders' recurrent situation, it is critical to introduce rehabilitative programs among the offenders than providing direct punishment.

African American Male Juvenile Rehabilitation versus Incarceration punishment is a debatable topic that various scholars seek to explore. When juvenile offenders are introduced into the criminal justice system, the debate is whether or not they should automatically be sent to serve their punishment or should there be rehabilitative methods that can be taken to help keep them from reoffending. When juvenile offenders are introduced to the criminal justice system or have their first run in with law enforcement, this is when they make their mark with law enforcement. Law enforcement officers have now determined how they are going to react to them and interact with them from here on out. Unfortunately, all juveniles do not have positive interactions with law enforcement which leads my interest on this topic.

Overall Purpose

The research aims at identifying the difference that exists between juvenile rehabilitation and incarceration punishment among African-American offenders. The research paper focuses on identifying the differences that exists between the juvenile rehabilitation and incarceration punishment among African-American offenders. It is evident that juvenile rehabilitation and incarceration among African Americans is not equal and up to the standards and recommendations of the society.

The project will focus on helping identify the problem in terms of the rehabilitation and incarceration and in turn helping change and improve the way that the society looks at the African Americans. It is evident that the paper will try to follow the research through a varied manner that involves the understanding of the criminal justice and how the African Americans fare through incarceration and rehabilitation. The research paper focuses on a social issue thus it is important to incorporate and utilize which is a major advantage to the way that they do collect information. The paper will utilize 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.

Significance of the Study

The topic ‘African American Male Juvenile Rehabilitation versus Incarceration Punishment’ is worth studying because there are juvenile offenders who were offered rehabilitative methods after their detention center time and ended up in a better situation afterwards than those who only had direct punishment and were released to the streets to no resources. Juvenile Justice is a direct part of the criminal justice system and law enforcement. Studying rehabilitative programs and the different therapeutic methods which helps assist juvenile with re-entering 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 is 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.

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.

Research Question

Qualitative: The research questions, research design and methodology have to be aligned in the sense that they create a flow of the research. It is easier for the research question to come up with the right interaction which is beneficial to the way that they do establish a right plan to the way that they do function.

Nature of Study

The research will mainly utilize 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 will help make a right judgment that establishes a plan that will 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 will be focusing 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.

References

Atkin-Plunk, C. A. (2020). Should all violent offenders be treated equally? Perceptions of punishment and rehabilitation for violent offenders with varying attributes. Victims & Offenders, 15(2), 218-242.

Donaldson-Richard, K. (2020). Effects of Laws, Policies, and Rehabilitation Programs on African American Male Juvenile Recidivism in Southwest Georgia.

Dragomir, R. R., & Tadros, E. (2020). Exploring the impacts of racial disparity within the American juvenile justice system. Juvenile and Family Court Journal, 71(2), 61-73.

González, T. (2017). Youth incarceration, health, and length of stay. Fordham Urb. LJ, 45, 45.

Hinton, E., & Cook, D. (2020). The Mass Criminalization of Black Americans: A Historical Overview. Annual Review of Criminology, 4.

Miguel, C., & Gargano, J. (2017). Moving beyond retribution: Alternatives to punishment in a society dominated by the school-to-prison pipeline. Humanities, 6(2), 15.

Showers, C. (2021). Risks for African American Male Youth Involved in the Juvenile Justice System.

Welch, K., Butler, L. F., & Gertz, M. (2019). Saving children, damning adults? An examination of public support for juvenile rehabilitation and adult punishment. Criminal Justice Review, 44(4), 470-491.

Western, B., & Wildeman, C. (2008). Punishment, inequality, and the future of mass incarceration. U. Kan. L. Rev., 57, 851.