Why rehabilitate juveniles

A large number of submissions to the Inquiry expressed concerns about the current operation of juvenile detention centres. Survey responses from young people in detention also indicated their high level of dissatisfaction with the operation of the system. A submission from the Townsville Community Legal Service pointed out. Adequately funded rehabilitation programs are critical in any detention centre if it is going to be successful as a means of dealing with criminal behaviour in our society.

In Western Australia, for example, a work camp for young males was established despite the fact that the Management Philosophy of the Juvenile Justice Directorate emphasised rehabilitation as a key focus of detention.

Some of the shock mechanisms used include verbal abuse and bullying. But their success rates seem low. Camp David Gonzales, a former detention camp, will now be the first youth detention center in the world to be repurposed into an education enrichment center. The ground has been broken and the transformation has begun to create a voluntary residential career-training center. Through this six-month immersive program, embedded in a positive and supportive culture of healing, mentorship, physical activity and job skills training, participants will be educated in one of two career tracks — Culinary Arts or Construction — with job placement upon completion.

In addition, they will learn soft skills, receive transition support, learn financial literacy and speak with life coaches on planning and goal setting. We believe that investment in our youth with effective and innovative education and programming will help stop the pipeline to mass incarceration and work towards equity for all Americans.

With this trend in California toward a more just system for youth, one that provides them with valuable education and personal development programming that they need to thrive, we are heartened about the path forward. Reasons for forcing children into these programs include truancy, involvement with drugs, and assault. In many cases, juvenile rehabilitation is not designed to punish.

Although containing children in facilities may seem like punishment, it should be remembered that both mental and substance rehabilitation often involve people staying in facilities. Juvenile rehabilitation methods can greatly vary.

Many methods are devised more to deter future delinquency and provide strong guidance than to serve as outright punishment. Non-violent youth may, for example, be housed in group homes. Those youth who have committed serious or violent crimes may be sent to youth prisons.

One of the determining factors is the different views on the profession and its activities. Foremost, it is important to understand that social work is a profession that combines values, knowledge, and skills. To implement the above process effectively, identify the individual needs of the juvenile, and respond to them appropriately, it is necessary to possess the relevant knowledge and skills.

Otherwise, it becomes impossible to provide services tailored to the needs of the beneficiary. Differently, carrying out the crucial component of the process of rehabilitation-re-socialization occurs improperly — offering services to the beneficiary that may not be related to the action taken, its causes, and the prevention of future action.. Consequently, the effective performance of professional activities by a social worker, taking into account the values of the profession and the goals of the performance, is possible when: the role of the social worker is fully understood and recognized in the justice system.

Addressing its resources efficiently according to the needs; promoting continuous development and professional support. Besides, provide social workers with the necessary resources.

Creating the working conditions, allowing them to apply the time and resources needed for each beneficiary. Only by considering the above issues may achieve the desired result — to implement the sentence according to the best interests of the child and to strengthen them in such a way as to allow prosocial independent functioning.

South Caucasus Regional Office , 03rd Jul at