Juvenile Justice System

This review addresses the shift towards treatment and rehabilitation within the juvenile justice system. This article discusses evidence-based programs and practices, data-based tools, and the importance of understanding the effects of trauma. Reform efforts have focused on reducing the number of youth committed to facilities. The focus on trauma-informed treatment and research has allowed youth to be diverted from long-term facilities. However, this means that the strengths, needs, and challenges of youth must be considered when implementing treatments with a focus on teaching emotional and behavioral self-regulation skills.

Transformation of the Juvenile Justice System Research into the adolescent brain has led to improved …show more content…
Trauma-informed treatment and adolescent brain research have been a focus within the juvenile justice system. These programs are working to be responsive to the trauma they encounter. This includes changing environments and training staff to appropriately respond to situations. One example of trauma-informed treatment is the Sanctuary Model, which is a whole system approach. It is designed to facilitate the development of structures, processes, and behaviors for staff, youth, and the community (CITE). This is an important approach that prioritizes the mental health of youth in the system. Moreover, it helps develop a culture of trust among staff and youth as they create a safe environment to work through trauma. Many juvenile justice systems have adopted trauma-informed and trauma-response models of care which consider individual and systematic trauma experienced by youth. It requires the examination of youth, family circumstances, and environmental factors that have affected the youth. Treatments focus on teaching emotional and behavioral self-regulation skills. The Oregon Youth Authority (OYA) observed a seventy-seven percent decrease in …show more content…
To ensure these programs are effective, some goals must be consistently achieved by the youth involved. These goals often include little to no recidivism, achieving educational goals for both credit and credentials, gaining job skills and certifications, and achieving employment goals. Early intervention and goal setting keep offenders from sinking further into the system and allow more youth to be kept at home with their families. These goals foster positive outcomes for youth and establish a solid foundation for their adult lives. I believe these programs are incredibly beneficial to youth in comparison to being in a facility where they cannot accomplish the same goals. An early review of these processes indicates that youth are sustaining longer community placements with this balanced approach. This is an important factor to consider as it shows that youth are responding well to the processes and investing in themselves. While the programs themselves only establish shorter-term goals, the lessons that are taught remain valuable for a lifetime. Research must continue because it has been shown to drastically help youth in the juvenile

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