Juvenile Incarceration and Recidivism

Juvenile Incarceration and Recidivism

Introduction

The impact of incarceration of minors or individuals less than 18 years of age on to recidivism is huge and affects the psyche of the individual significantly. It has been found in a study undertaken that offenders are less likely to become recidivist after they have been involved in community work as a result of the crime committed; rather than being incarcerated, which is more likely to cause them a relapse into the criminal activities (Wermink et al., 2010, pp. 325). This study though involved offenders between the age of 18 and 50 years, it holds considerable weightage for minors as they are more vulnerable and are in those years of life which can shape their entire personality by impacting their perception and psychological approach. Incarceration tends to directly impact negatively the recidivism rate; and this impact holds for short as well as long term incarceration. The purpose of this paper is to further explore this relationship keeping the sample consisting of individuals and offenders under the age of 18 years; thus juveniles.

Discussion

Literature Review

Imprisonment is considered as one of the most severe punishment after the capital punishment or death penalty by the United States of America. Although this step is taken by the authorities for the better of the society; for crime prevention but it is found to be producing adverse effects.

It is suggested that the juvenile prisoner could be a better a person upon being released because of the impact of rehabilitation and specific deterrence that he has gone through, and because he is vulnerable and can easily be frightened but yet there are some aspects of incarceration that outweigh the possibility of the accused to become civilized citizen of the country once he is released. Specific or Specific Deterrence is the treatment through which juvenile will conclude that the price paid for the crime is higher than the pleasure gained from crime and would ultimately deter involvement into criminal activities (Andrews et al., 1990, pp. 384). Still, as discussed above, it cannot be guaranteed that they will be a responsible citizen after the treatment they have borne at the prison; which inculcates antisocial behavior.

Even if the person has changed, they constantly need to deal with stereotypic perception of people which leads them into anxiety and severe depression; leading them to the path of self-deterioration which most of the time ends up in producing criminogenic effects. There are numerous studies proving the existence of significant relationship between imprisonment or incarceration of juveniles and its impact on their reoffending capabilities or recidivism rates (Villettaz et al., 2006).

It is because of the usual inevitability of the juveniles to be able to get back on the right track once he has been incarcerated. Juveniles develop association with inmate which influences them negatively. It is also the treatment of the corrections office that inhibits the development of the juveniles and their moral standards in a positive way. They are usually exploited by the ...