Community reintegration in juveniles

Community Reintegration Programs

Briana Castillo Valdes

Grantham University

Community Reintegration Programs

Juveniles are the offenders that are under the age of 18. One thing that should be noted is the fact that, they are young and at a point the possibility to bring them back on track is high. However, for that to happen, they need to be brought back into the community and feel accepted. The acceptance may go a long way in aiding the reintegration process. First and foremost, there is the restorative justice system. The justice system, instead of the offender serving their whole time i8n jail, some of the time is served while attending to the community they wronged (Rodriguez, 2005). The justice system allows the offender to go back to those they wronged and, in one way or another work around them to gain their trust back and most importantly forgiveness. The offenders are given a chance to make up for the mistakes that they did.

If the above method is used as a reintegration program, it will make sure that even before the offenders finish their serving their time, they are already seeking the forgiveness of the community. The community will also be aware of the fact that the offenders are seeking forgiveness. Restorative justice can be argued to be the best form of reintegration that is available today in the justice system. One thing that is for sure is that, through the process, the juveniles will feel that they made mistakes, and they will feel the guilt. The guilt may be enough to ensure that they are sorry, and they don’t try to make the same mistake again. On the same note, the central theme of reintegration is to make the returning juveniles better people in the society. Restorative justice goes a long way in making sure that the culture teaches the offenders the right way forward.

Another process of reintegration that the community may use is the community-based programs. The programs have been in effect since historical times, but they have been used so far as a form of punishment mainly for offenders on parole. However, the same programs can be transformed into reintegration programs with less feeling of the punishment or keeping one in check aspect. As noted, the programs are called community services or community programs. Some of them may entail voluntary work at schools or hospitals. Most of the time, the community does not even care, and the offender does it, not to get on the wrong side of the judge. But what if the community programs entail those activities that involve the whole community? It means that at the time the activities were going on, the whole community or the central part of the community is present.

The presence of the whole community and the offenders at the same place just for fun or just doing something together makes more sense in the terms of integration. 4the offenders are welcomed back to the society, and they will feel part of the community. Those who may have anything against the returning juveniles may take this chance to make sure that they bury the hatchet and allow them back into the community. What this kind of program will make sure is that the returning offenders, feel back at home and feel part of the society. It eliminates that punishment perspective that has been accorded to the community services program (Liddle et al., 2010). The community also gets a chance to get closer to the offenders and as such, may advise them on the way forward.

Another way to try and reintegrate the juveniles back into the society is by offering them classes that will prove they are upright again and can join the rest of the society. The juveniles are taken to class either by psychologist and other teachers from the community. They are made aware of the wrongs they have committed to the community and the process they have to undergo to make sure that they are accepted back. The reason why there is a teacher from the community in this kind of setting is to report back to the community. The teacher may be a trusted person and as such, they will relay the information of the need to accept back the juveniles. The feeling of the community that the person in question has changed for the better will make them accept the juvenile back into the society. The teachings received will make the offenders be better people and thus avoid a repeat.

The community may also decide to make sure they reduce cases of juvenile’s crime cases in the society. There should be an introduction of mentorship programs. As a youth, the community must make sure that one is upright. They should provide the youth with teachers of life. What they can do is make sure that in schools, community centers or any other common part of the society, there is someone who can teach young people how to grow up as upright and responsible adults. The mentors must be people who are exemplary and the youths in question can look up to them. The availability of the mentor will make sure that they grow up to be important people in society. Literacy programs and out of school programs are also important. Some of those in the community may be illiterate and thus have difficulty finding jobs as such end up committing crimes. The community may decide to develop a community center where programs like computer colleges or tailoring and hairdressing training are provided. The programs make sure that the dropouts and those who may be illiterate in the society are well taught on how to earn legally. The program can also be used to reduce the crime rates of minor offenders. The program above can also go hand in hand with other programs that the state may offer such as employment programs. One thing to note is, the community offers some kind of education tom the illiterate and drop outs. They give them a chance to have a professional life and something to make their CVs attractive. Hence easy for them to be integrated into the employment programs.

References

Liddle, H. A., Dakof, G. A., Henderson, C., & Rowe, C. (2010). Implementation outcomes of Multidimensional family therapy–Detention to Community: A reintegration program for drug-using juvenile detainees. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology.

Rodriguez, N. (2005). Restorative justice, communities, and delinquency: Whom do we reintegrate? Criminology & Pub. Pol'y, 4, 103.