NCJ Number
164234
Journal
Aggression and Violent Behavior Volume: 1 Issue: 1 Dated: (Spring 1996) Pages: 69-79
Date Published
1996
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This literature review examines the roots of the increasing dissatisfaction with the juvenile justice system, evaluates the current approach to rehabilitative and reintegrative efforts, and examines innovative intervention programs aimed at treating and reintegrating violent youth.
Abstract
Support is increasing for correctional policies aimed at removing young offenders from society, despite increasing data disputing the basic premise that rehabilitative and reintegrative efforts are ineffective. Traditional and current rehabilitative and reintegrative efforts have been ineffective because they have failed to address offenders' multifaceted problems. Innovative and promising programs include the individualized services in the Alaska Youth Initiative and the multisystemic family therapy approach used by Henggeler and colleagues. Simply giving youth the same procedural rights as adults will not solve the problem of juvenile violence and juvenile corrections. Instead, the encouraging findings from recent innovative rehabilitative programs should be recognized. These programs approach problems in terms of crucial social contexts, deliver services to that natural social context, and provide individualized and flexible services. 86 references (Author abstract modified)