Treatment versus Punishment



Treatment versus Punishment

Introduction

In a self-governing civilization, citizens' expectations from the government and its authorities are very high. But the fact is that in current juvenile system the value of fulfilling citizens need is nowhere to be found, primarily because authorities are more concerned towards the conclusion of longest debate regarding the future of Juvenile justice system and effectiveness of punishment versus treatment (Bilchik, 1996).

Meanwhile, several policy makers of the country consider the implementation of “get tough” approach and inappropriate sentences to juvenile offenders as the major reason behind the criminalization of juvenile justice system (ABA, 2009). On the other hand, some experts and policy makers have started to support the ideas of dissolving the foundation and principles of juvenile justice system, while, those in favour of this system has urged the authorities to reformulate the justice system according to the procedure of traditional treatment mission.

However, considerable percentage of public and several legal experts of juvenile justice system believe that both “treatment and punishment” choices are simply rephrasing of words and nothing else, for instance, one senior judge have explain them as worst choices to make decision between sending their children to jail or beach (Bishop, 2006). Thus, it has become uncertain that both treatment of punishment model can reinstate community trust and confidence in the juvenile justice system.

Moreover, the needs and desire of the community can only be fulfilled with broad and significant contribution from every citizen of the community, and attaining such contribution in prevailing juvenile system would require them to reformulate their structure and policies. the next section of the report will explain the difference between the punishment and treatment approach in the juvenile justice system and will try to identify the best system that and state should choose while punishing the offenders of juvenile system for specific crime of for crimes of diversified nature.

Discussion

Supporters and campaigner of re-implementing treatment procedure in juvenile system consider unavailability or lack of resources as the primary reason of continuous failure of this justice system. Meanwhile, both the supporter and opponent argue that current juvenile system has seriously failed to communicate the vision of success and they further argue that if current system is considered underfunded, than for over the years this system has not been properly conceptualized of developed.

According to the principle of prevailing juvenile system the concept of treatment and punishment models are limited and unsophisticated. Both of these concepts are limited because there prime focus is towards the offender, and are unsophisticated because they have so far unable tackle with prevailing challenges of the society (Boggs et al 2008). Even though the concept of punishment approach might pacify the increasing demand of revenge from the public that have suffered a lot in recent years, however, this system has just able revitalize the offenders of juvenile system.

Over the years, concept of Punishment been used improperly and inadequately by the authorities and thus has damaged the basic principle of this ...