Youth Crime

Paper Summary:

This paper examines the historical and modern trends occurring in the field of juvenile justice and proposes changes within the juvenile justice system. The paper focuses more on restorative rather than retributive justice as a means of reforming youth criminals and reducing the rates of violent crimes witnessed among young offenders.

Table of Contents:
Abstract
Introduction
Problem Statement
Significance of Study
Historical Perspective Juvenile Crime
Future Directions
Restorative Justice vs. Retributive Justice
Theories Guiding Restorative Justice
Philosophical Foundations for Restorative Justice
Summary and Conclusions
References

From the Paper:

"In recent years much attention has been brought to the increasing incidence of violent juvenile criminal activity within the United States. The juvenile justice system was crated in the late 1800s as a system for protecting the rights of youths that engaged in deviant behavior. At that time the focus of the juvenile system included rehabilitating youth offenders to help them transition back into their communities successfully (Tanenhaus, 2004). With time however that focus shifted, and juvenile justice courts began taking on a more retributive approach to youth crime, punishing youth offenders for criminal activity rather than working toward reforming youth offenders. Part of this resulted from lack of adequate funding and information about the best methods for addressing youth criminal activity. This shift in paradigm has resulted in increasing levels of youth crime and more violent criminal activity among youth offenders."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Ball, R. (2003). "Restorative justice as strength-based accountability." Reclaiming Children & Youth, 12(1): 49.
• Bazemore, G. & Walgrave, L. (Eds.). (1999). "Restorative juvenile justice: Repairing the harm of youth crime." Monsely, NY: Criminal Justice Press.
• Feld, B.C. (1999). Bad Kids: Race and the transformation of the juvenile court. New York:Oxford University Press.
• Hunzeker, D. (1995, may). "Juvenile Crime, grown up time." State Legislatures, 21(5): 14.
• Lerman, P. (1990). "Delinquency and social policy: A historical perspective." In, Juvenile Delinquency, 2nd ed., Weisheit, R. & Culbertson, R.G. (5-16). Prospect Heights: Waveland Press.

More papers on Youth Crime:

• Essay # 86473 : "Youth Crime and Punishment"
• Essay # 40061 : "The Ontario Government and Youth Crime"
• Analytical Essay # 142580 : "Restorative Justice: A Solution to Youth Crime"
• Argumentative Essay # 93409 : "Theories in Youth Crime"

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