Term Paper on "Probation Juveniles"

Term Paper 5 pages (1428 words) Sources: 1+

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Juvenile Probation Programs:

A Comparison/Contrast

In today's America, the problem associated with juvenile crime has reached epidemic proportions which in essence has prompted many major cities and counties to establish programs that deal specifically with juvenile crime via their probation departments. Out of the thousands that are currently active, two stand out as quintessential examples -- the Lehigh County Juvenile Probation Department, located in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and the Cook County Juvenile Probation Department which serves the greater Chicago, Illinois, community. According to their respective websites, these two probation programs excel when it comes to dealing with juvenile offenders after their sentencing in court for various crimes against society. However, no matter how efficient or well-established such programs may be, there always exist the need to alter or incorporate other entities into juvenile probation programs, due to the ever-changing face of American juvenile crime.

The Lehigh County Juvenile Probation Department:

The website for this outstanding program is very comprehensive and provides much information on how the department functions and the nature of its numerous juvenile services. Essentially, the Lehigh County Probation Department "has the responsibility to the community for delivering necessary and appropriate services for juveniles and families that come before the Juvenile Court" (2005, Internet), due to a great increase in juvenile crime and those that commit violent acts against society, many of whom come from dysfunctional families without sufficient parental supervision and have experience mental, physical and sexual abuse at the hands of family members. Also, a good number of these new clients/offenders have poor histories related to their schooling which has only increased the rate of juvenile crime.

In 1996, the state of Pennsylvania enacted a so-called "balanced approach" to juvenile crime and its ramifications with its Juvenile Act, designed to "provide for children. . . programs of supervision, care, and rehabilitation" while focusing on "balanced attention to the protection of the community, the imposition of accountability for offenses committed, and the development of competencies to enable children to become responsible and productive members of society" (2005, Internet). As a result, the Lehigh County Juvenile Probation Department has created thirteen separate programs aimed at reducing juvenile crime while providing sufficient outlets and support entities for the prevention of additional offenses.

Some of these programs include the establishment of an alcohol and drug awareness program which provides offenders with much-needed information on the effects of alcohol and drugs on the human body, the legal aspects of under-age drinking and allows individuals to tell their stories about how alcohol and drugs have impacted their lives. School-Based Probation "places probation officers in the schools to supervise their clients and interact with teachers and other students" with aims to illuminate the consequences of illegal activities as a deterrent. A number of community-based counseling agencies have also been established which helps the offender to realize the consequences of his/her actions and take responsibility for these actions.

In addition, other programs serve as adjuncts to the overall system. These include grants and contractual agreements to assist young persons in the community via counseling for families and individuals; the Alpha Program, intended to "work with. . . youth when they are first referred to probation in order to help them deal more effectively with their problems and reduce recidivism;" S.P.O.R.E., short for Special Program for Offenders in Rehabilitation and Education, made up of probation officers and mental health caseworkers; Community Alternative Work Service (CAWS) which attempts to hold young offenders responsible for their offenses against society; the Interagency Agreement with Children and Youth program which focuses on placing juveniles in foster homes and group home programs; the Interagency Agreement with Mental Health/Mental Retardation Program which provides psychiatric treatment through state funding; Placement in Boot Camps and Weekend Wilderness Programs in conjunction with Youth Forestry Camps; electronic monitoring programs for those who continually violate the law; the College Mentoring Program which induces juvenile offenders to think about a college education, and finally, the Prisoners Against Drugs Program in which offenders are "taken to the Lehigh County Prison to hear the inmates discuss the reality of prison life and how drugs and alcohol paved the way for their incarceration" (2005, Internet).

The Cook County Juvenile Probation Department:

This juvenile probation department of Cook County, made up of the city of Chicago… READ MORE

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