Treatment FAQ

how does treatment programs reintroduce juveniles back into society compared to incarceration

by Connie Goldner Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago

Juvenile offenders—in general—are more likely to struggle with mental health and substance abuse issues. Reentry and aftercare programs attempt to transition and reintegrate formerly incarcerated juveniles back into society. Reentry and aftercare programs are essential to help adjust juveniles back into society and to reduce recidivism rates.

Full Answer

How do reentry and aftercare programs help juvenile offenders?

Juvenile offenders—in general—are more likely to struggle with mental health and substance abuse issues. Reentry and aftercare programs attempt to transition and reintegrate formerly incarcerated juveniles back into society.

Is multisystemic therapy an effective alternative to incarceration for juvenile offenders?

Family preservation using multisystemic therapy: an effective alternative to incarcerating serious juvenile offenders. J Consult Clin Psychol1992; 60: 953–61. [PubMed] [Google Scholar] 71. Timmons-Mitchell J, Bender MB, Kishna MA, Mitchell CC. An independent effectiveness trial of multisystemic therapy with juvenile justice youth.

What are the interventions for juvenile offenders?

Interventions include counseling, behavioral programs, restitution, probation, and vocational and educational programs; these programs work with individual behavior to prevent future delinquency. OJJDP suggests that surveillance is more effective when coupled with treatment/services.

What happens to a juvenile’s health care when reentering society?

For juveniles enrolled in Medicaid prior to incarceration, health care remains an issue when reentering society. About 20 percent of state juvenile justice agencies and nearly 50 percent of state Medicaid agencies automatically terminate Medicaid benefits for juveniles in detention.

How has the treatment of juveniles in the criminal justice system changed over time?

Since the 1990s, juvenile crime rates have steadily decreased, yet the harsh penalties of the 1990s remain in many state laws. With this shift, key distinctive and rehabilitative approaches of the juvenile justice system have been lost to the more severe consequences attendant to criminal justice system involvement.

What are some of the benefits for juveniles going back into society?

Specifically, “by fostering improved family relationships and functioning, reintegration into school, and mastery of independent life skills, youth build resiliency and positive development to divert them from delinquent and other problematic behaviors.

How can prisoners reintegrate into society?

Helping them find adequate housing and providing educational opportunities that leads to gainful employment are all critical to successful reintegration and reductions in recidivism.

How do community treatment and institutional treatment differ for juveniles?

Compared with institutional placements, community programs are less costly, less disruptive to families, and have the potential to address the youths' delinquency in the natural contexts in which it is likely to occur.

How does incarceration affect youth?

The small existing literature on longitudinal health effects of youth incarceration suggests that any incarceration during adolescence or young adulthood is associated with worse general health,17 severe functional limitations,1 stress-related illnesses, such as hypertension,2 and higher rates of overweight and obesity ...

Why is rehabilitation important for juveniles?

Effective rehabilitation is important because it helps to eliminate the vicious cycle of recidivism and proper rehabilitation can lead to juvenile delinquent population not resorting to adult criminal activity.

Are reentry programs effective?

In a nutshell, there are very few employment programs that show promise for reducing recidivism. In particular, employment-focused reentry programs have had little success in reducing recidivism. This means that prisoner reentry efforts that rely mainly on job training and subsidized jobs are not likely to succeed.

What are the 3 biggest challenges that inmates face when returning back to the community?

The 4 Biggest Challenges Facing Those Newly Released From PrisonChallenge #1: Not Knowing Where to Begin.Challenge #2: Family Strain.Challenge #3: Finding Employment.Challenge #4: Mental Health Issues.

What are the barriers to reentry into society?

Once released, formerly incarcerated people face a myriad of barriers to successfully re-entering society. They are not allowed to vote, have little access to education, face scant job opportunities, and are ineligible for public benefits, public housing and student loans.

Is community-based treatment better than imprisonment?

Community-based alternatives to prison claim to be more effective in reducing recidivism than are traditional prisons, to be cheaper than prisons, and to reduce overcrowding in prisons and jails.

What is the difference between institutional based treatment program and the community-based treatment program?

The difference is, community-based corrections are you're either placed on parole or given probation, and institutional-based corrections means that the individual is placed in a prison or jail, which means they are housed in a secure correctional facility.

What are the different rehabilitation and treatment programs under institutional correction?

Correction and Rehabilitation of Penitent OffendersIndividual and group counseling. ... Moral, Spiritual, Values Formation. ... Work or Job Placement/Referral. ... Vocational/Livelihood and Skills Training. ... Health, Mental and Medical Services. ... Literacy and Education. ... Community Service. ... Client Self-Help Organization.More items...

What is reentry in juvenile justice?

Reentry refers to those activities and tasks that prepare youth placed out-of-home for reentry into their families and communities. 1

How to improve the odds of success for youth reentering the community?

To improve the odds of success for youth reentering the community, the justice system, related agencies, and communities must plan for what needs to occur for reentry when youth enter the juvenile justice system: “think exit at entry.”. Therefore coordination and collaboration between agencies and across services and support s are necessary ...

What is the transitional phase?

The transitional phase: The actual act of leaving the facility and reentering the community, which is immediately before and immediately after the date of exit. The community-based aftercare phase: Usually the 120-day (or longer) period of time after a youth returns to the community. Successful reentry programs and practices should ensure ...

Do juveniles need to be in community settings?

Finally, regardless of where youth return upon exit from secure care, they will need the skills to properly control their emotions and behaviors in community settings. This requires that juvenile justice facilities address any mental/behavioral health needs youth may have, and connect them with community-based treatment and support services upon exit.

Why is special consideration for juveniles not a new concept?

In Roman law, the principle of doli incapaxprotected young children from prosecution owing to the presumption of a lack of capacity and understanding required to be guilty of a criminal offence.

What are the challenges of therapeutic youth justice?

Common challenges to a therapeutic youth justice pathway. There are common obstacles to smooth care pathways between different parts of systems, such as in transitions between secure settings and the community, between prisons and secure psychiatric settings, and between child and adult services.

What are the three key considerations in a criminal sentence?

The sentencing of an individual convicted of a criminal offence is largely driven by three key considerations: retribution (punishment), deterrence and rehabilitation. In the case of juvenile offenders the principle of rehabilitation is often assigned the greatest weight.11.

How did France build a strong welfare reputation?

Similarly, France built a strong welfare reputation by placing education and rehabilitation at the centre of youth justice reforms in the 1940s.

How old do you have to be to be a juvenile?

In some cases individuals older than 18 years may be heard in a juvenile court, and therefore will still be considered juveniles; indeed, the United Nations (UN) defines ‘youth’ as between 15 and 24 years of age.

Did juvenile crime increase in the UK in the 1980s?

In common with the USA and several other high-income countries, the UK also experienced a rise in juvenile offending in the 1980s and 1990s, but figures from the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales appear to indicate a general improvement in recent years.

Is evidence based therapeutic intervention a good approach to juvenile delinquency?

Its adoption of an evidence-based therapeutic intervention philosophy has been associated with greater reductions in recidivism compared with punitive approaches prevalent in some countries worldwide, and it is therefore a superior approach to dealing with the problem of juvenile delinquency.

How has the flow of people into and out of prisons contributed to increasing inequality in recent decades?

The flow of people into and out of prisons has contributed to increasing inequality in recent decades, primarily by reducing opportunities for employment and lowering wages among former prisoners, but also by decreasing the prevalence of two-parent families (Western 2007).

What are the key features of the prison boom?

First, the rise in incarceration has been disproportionately experienced by minorities, particularly young black men, and those with low levels of education.

How does population turnover affect heterogeneity?

Finally, population turnover can increase cultural/normative heterogeneityby exposing those who have not been incarcerated to prison norms and subcultures and drawing new people into the neighborhood with different norms and values, all of which could reduce a community’s capacity to regulate itself.

Who was the first to argue that the spatial mismatch between the skills of job seekers and job openings in urban communities

An influential theory of this kind was articulated by Wilson (1987, 1996) in his work on the geographic concentration of poverty and joblessness in urban neighborhoods, which he linked to deindustrialization the “ spatial mismatch” created between the skills of jobseekers and job openings in urban communities.

What is evidence based in juvenile justice?

In the juvenile justice field, the term “evidence-based” is defined as a body of knowledge, also obtained through scientific method, on the impact of specific practices on targeted outcomes for youth and their families (Hoagwood, et. al, 2001). McDonald (2003) conceptualized that evidence-based programs consists of three characteristics (defined outcomes, measurable outcomes, and practical realities or the rate of recidivism).

What is the challenge of juvenile justice?

significant challenge facing the juvenile justice system is the task of transitioning and reintegrating juveniles from youth corrections facilities back into the community. This challenge, in part, is related to determining whether the referred community programs are effective. This article summarizes the literature on the effectiveness of community programs for juveniles involved in the justice system, including defining characteristics of evidence-based programs and examining the relationship between youth characteristics and evidence-based practices. Model evidence-based programs are reviewed, providing a description of respective programs, treatment targets, and their outcomes. Limitations of evidence-based programs will be discussed and recommendations for the field will be summarized. Key words: Community programs, juvenile justice, evidence-based programs, delinquents, treatment.

What is mode deactivation therapy?

Mode Deactivation Therapy (MDT) was developed in response to the difficulty in treating youth with high levels of co-morbidity, which resulted in ongoing resistance to current treatments modalities as well as being considered treatment failures in both the outpatient and residential settings. Apsche, Bass & Murphy (2004) have demonstrated that MDT is effective in reducing aggression and suicidal ideations within this population. Through the synthesizing of an applied CBT methodology as well as Linehan’s work with Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), MDT was developed for youth who displayed a reactive conduct disorder, personality disorders/ traits, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder symptomology. Apsche and his colleagues have demonstrated the effectiveness of MDT in reducing aggression, specifically with youth who display the aforementioned diagnostic traits (Apsche, et al., 2004; Apsche & Ward 2004). Apsche & Siv (2005) further emphasize the need for an efficacious methodology by positing the development of personality disorder traits/features as a coping mechanism by these youth. This methodology encapsulates the needs of these youth who present with a complicated neglect, multi-axial diagnoses, as well as often being the victims of sexual, physical, and/ or emotional abuse.

What is MTFC in foster care?

Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care (MTFC) is an intensive parent training in an effort to enhance parents/guardians with more effective methods of parenting the juvenile when they return home. MTFC places emphasis on utilizing behavioral management methods with juvenile offenders in order to elicit change (Chamberlin & Mihalic, 1998).

What is multisystemic therapy?

Multisystemic Therapy (MST) is considered an intensive family and community based treatment for youth who display antisocial behaviors, which puts them at risk for out-of-home placements. MST has been applied to youth with a variety of clinical problems which consists of: 1) chronic and violent juvenile offenders, 2) substance-abusing juvenile offenders, 3) adolescent sexual offenders, 4) youth in psychiatric crises (homicidal, suicidal, and psychotic), and 5) maltreating families (Randal, Heneggeler, Pickrel & Brondino, 1999).In treating these particular populations, the ultimate goals of MST programs are to reduce the rates of antisocial behavior, enhance the youth’s functioning, and decrease the utilization of out-of-home placements (incarceration and residential treatment). MST’s focal point is on the juvenile’s surrounding environment (neighborhood, family, peers, school, etc.) and how it contributes to the juvenile’s well-being. Service delivery occurs within the home environment and the community. Cortes (2004) states that many authors believe in the effectiveness of home-based family therapy due to the fact that it reduces the attrition rate of families who may not trust the mental health field or may not possess transportation. Home-based services may also benefit the juvenile and his/her family since the family is more at ease. This helps the family in developing better relationships with the therapist, while maintaining some type of control. Home-based services provide more accessible services for low income families (Henggeler, Mihalic, Rone, Thomas & Timmons-Mitchell, 1998).

What are the factors that call for community based intervention programs?

Crowded facilities, exceptionally high recidivism rates, and the rising costs of incarcerating juveniles are among the factors calling for community-based intervention programs that are supported by the literature (Altschuler, 1998). Common practices include innovative, promising, and best practices.

What is functional family therapy?

Functional Family Therapy (FFT) is a family-based intervention, which is delivered in a clinical setting. FFT consists of four different phases: Impression, Motivation, Behavior Change, and Generalization phase (Alexander, Pugh & Parsons, 2000). These phases include assessments of the family, specific interventions utilized throughout the treatment, and the goals of the therapist. FFT’s major goal is to enhance the family’s communication with each other despite much of the negativity that may be displayed. Other goals include enhancing parenting and problem-solving skills. FFT addresses delinquent behavior, substance abuse, and mental health disorders (Conduct disorder, Oppositional Defiant disorder, and Disruptive Behavior disorder).

How many juveniles are released from jail every year?

Every year, approximately 100,000 juveniles are released from juvenile detention facilities and other out-of-home placements. An out-of-home placement can be disruptive even for juveniles who have family, school, or community support. Juveniles released from confinement experience other challenges in returning to society.

How many juveniles were in residential placement in 2006?

In 2006, nearly 93,000 juveniles were in some type of residential placement: 62 percent in post-adjudicatory secure facilities, 26 percent in pre-adjudicatory detention and 8 percent in detention awaiting placement . The majority of these facilities reported providing on-site services:63 percent provided mental health treatment and 57 percent provided substance abuse treatment. Adjudicated juveniles are sentenced on average to four to six months.

Why do juveniles have additional obstacles?

Laurence Steinberg, Professor of Psychology at Temple University, contend that juvenile offenders experience additional obstacles because they are incarcerated during their developmental years.

What is aftercare in juvenile justice?

As outlined in OJJDP’s Juvenile Justice Practice Series, reentry/aftercare programs typically combine two different approaches: surveillance and services. Surveillance, or community restraint, practices include contact with parole correctional personnel, urine testing, electronic monitoring, employment verification, intensive supervision, house arrest and residence in halfway houses. Surveillance methods work to reduce capacity and opportunity to commit future crimes. Interventions include counseling, behavioral programs, restitution, probation, and vocational and educational programs; these programs work with individual behavior to prevent future delinquency. OJJDP suggests that surveillance is more effective when coupled with treatment/services.

What is the MacArthur model for change?

Pennsylvania is one of four states that are core participants in the MacArthur Foundation’s Models for Change program. The initiative was established in 2004 and aims to accelerate promising efforts in the area of juvenile justice system reform. Aftercare is one of the targeted areas of improvement. In Pennsylvania, Models for Change reform efforts have focused on implementing reforms laid out in a Joint Policy Statement on Aftercare that was signed by five key states agencies. Goals of this statement include:

Can juveniles get their criminal records expunged?

However, similar to recently released adult offenders, a juvenile’s criminal record presents obstacles to securing employment; thus, it is key that these records can be expunged. Furthermore, if youth are confined during their adolescence, their employment history and academic preparation may be inadequate, which makes it more difficult for them to find jobs. Career and technical training available in residential placements often do not result in industry certification or are in industries in which few jobs are available in the juveniles’ home communities. In many states, for example, most incarcerated youth come from urban jurisdictions, but many larger correctional facilities are located in more rural areas. Career training opportunities often will reflect facility locale and staff expertise of the staff, but not opportunities available in urban settings. It is important that career and technical training offered in facilities is based on industry recognized standards so that youth can continue training when they return home after placement.

What is Obama's plan for funding in prison?

According to the Wall Street Journal, President Barack Obama plans to restore federal funding in the form of Pell Grants for inmates to take college courses in prison , part of his larger interest in reforming the country’s criminal justice system.

What are the six basic needs of an inmate?

Jacobs says a person’s successful re-entry into society can be viewed through how adequately they are able to meet six basic life needs: livelihood, residence, family, health, criminal justice compliance and social connections. Those needs manifest differently, depending on the phase an inmate is in when they’re released.

What is the ride home program?

Take the “Ride Home Program” from the Anti-Recidivism Coalition in California, which was recently profiled in The New York Times Magazine. It employs former inmates to pick up ex-prisoners on the day they are released to help guide them through the changed world.

What does it mean to be an ex-offenders?

“Rather, it means you take people where they are in life and try to help equip them with the skills to make them more effective in their life.”.

Which state has the highest incarceration rate?

Louisiana has the highest incarceration rate in the U.S. While officials say they have seen a decline in the prison population in the last few years, it’s not clear just how much the re-entry programs in particular have contributed to that lower rate.

Is San Quentin Prison offering college?

In California, San Quentin Prison — one of the largest prisons in the country — is offering college-level education to inmates through the Prison University Project, the largest in-prison college program in the California prison system.

Do inmates stay crime free?

It also found that inmates who completed a college-based education program while incarcerated stayed crime-free longer than those who did not participate in the program. Opponents say that such higher education programs in prison are not a proper use of taxpayer dollars.

Issues

Effects

  • Unfortunately, many youth return to unstable home settings, struggle to remain in school, and lack the skills needed for employment upon leaving secure care placement. Further, the majority of youth involved in the juvenile justice system have a mental health disorder, and support services in their home communities are hard to arrange until they are formally released. This can cause …
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Introduction

  • To improve the odds of success for youth reentering the community, the justice system, related agencies, and communities must plan for what needs to occur for reentry when youth enter the juvenile justice system: think exit at entry. Therefore coordination and collaboration between agencies and across services and supports are necessary at multiple phases of reentry.2 The fo…
See more on youth.gov

Goals

  • Successful reentry programs and practices should ensure the delivery of prescribed services and supervision in the community. Specifically, by fostering improved family relationships and functioning, reintegration into school, and mastery of independent life skills, youth build resiliency and positive development to divert them from delinquent and other problematic behaviors.3
See more on youth.gov

Benefits

  • Research has demonstrated that reentry services and aftercare programs which connect youth with professional case managers, mentors, and education and/or employment opportunities can reduce recidivism.4 Youth in residential settings should be provided with high quality, appropriate education programming that parallels that of mainstream public scho...
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Research

  • Additionally, research consistently shows that individuals who have jobs are less likely to engage in crime; however, youth exiting secure care and seeking employment often encounter obstacles.6 To help youth develop the skills necessary for successful employment, juvenile justice facilities should offer high-quality vocational training and other employment supports including providing …
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Management

  • Finally, regardless of where youth return upon exit from secure care, they will need the skills to properly control their emotions and behaviors in community settings. This requires that juvenile justice facilities address any mental/behavioral health needs youth may have, and connect them with community-based treatment and support services upon exit.
See more on youth.gov

Prevention

  • Another key consideration for reentry planning is the environment to which a youth will return. The extent to which a youths neighborhood generally accepts criminal behavior and drug useor special contagion7must be reviewed. When necessary, alternative supports and activities must be put in place to lower the risk of the youth re-engaging in delinquent/criminal behavior. Because i…
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