Crime Causation and Diversion

Crime Causation and Diversion
Over the last 100 years juveniles have always broken laws. However, going into the 21st century times have changed because of the computer age we live in. Juveniles today can access any information on how to commit crimes from robbing banks, selling drugs, auto theft, how to purchase weapons, and how to make bombs et cetera. The knowledge available to day is far more dangerous than 100 years ago. As a result society should create ways to help or children to refrain from breaking the laws in stead of placing them in the criminal justice system. The focus of this paper is to describe the Oklahoma Association of Youth Services (OAYS) First Time Offenders and the Youth Cornerstone program. Address why the programs should work to reduce juvenile crime based on an analysis of the relationship between program premise and goals as well as one or more major causes of juvenile delinquent behavior (University of Phoenix, 2011, p. 8). Both programs have been put into practice as methods of prevention against delinquent behavior and criminal activity in youth before an altercation of negativity occurs. Both FTOP and Youth Cornerstone programs educate, train, and offer a variety of rehabilitative activities, such as time out strategy, danger signs in communication, GED programs, THRIVE, 3-D, and SIPP. As a result of these programs law enforcement, juvenile justice and criminal court systems present other alternatives instead of placing juveniles in the correctional system as first or second time offender. We know it a know fact that most judges are in favor of issuing “just deserts” to repeated offender serious or not.
The Oklahoma Association of Youth Services (OAYS) implemented the First Time Offenders Program (FTOP) in 1995. In 1994 the Oklahoma Senate passed a law mandating that the office of Juvenile Affairs develop an alternative diversion program in conjunction with the courts system and the Department of Juvenile Justice ("Oklahoma Association of Youth Services", 2009). After the implementation of the program revisions were made to the curriculum in 1997 and 2009. The program created was to become involved and prevent juveniles form developing a personality of juvenile delinquents.
The second program was a vision of Robert H. Macy Oklahoma County
District Attorney; created the program in 1987. The program was targeted at keeping youth in school and out of the criminal justice system. The director of the juvenile division that was assigned to Macy’s office worked in collaboration with a special programs coordinator to come up with a solution to the truancy problems and the school dropout rate. Macy was a firm believer that if a program could be implemented to keep youth in school the program would ultimately keep them out of the juvenile and adult justice system. After the program was implemented there were gaps in the program. Thus, the Oklahoma County Coalition of citizens and Professionals for Youth was established to reach out to multiple agencies for assistance. As a result laws passed allowing police officers to intervene with juveniles who were not in school during school hours.
Both programs are specifically designed to suit the needs of juveniles with hopes of reducing juvenile entry into the criminal justice system. These programs are designed to educate the youth about import facets that exist in natural and uncultivated situations and provided him or her with fundamentals needed to survive as a group or individual. Both programs encourage parents and family members to participate. Both programs use some of the same youth service agencies. The OAYS program is geared toward juveniles’ ages 10-17 years and the Youth Cornerstone programs start with elementary through high school.
The FTOP provides six core curricula and two other supplemental sessions. The first session is an introductory session, which includes “philosophy and keys to success, program rules and behavioral contract, Obstacle Story and Celebration of Mistakes, Juvenile Justice system/JOLTS (definition of terms, understanding probation, parole, and custody); repeat offenses, offense cycle, and adolescent development/umbrella of authority” ("Oklahoma Association Of Youth Services", 2009). Second, is communication parts of communication, I statements/skillful talking, danger signs in communication, time out strategy, events, issues, and skillful listening ("Oklahoma Association of Youth Services", 2009). Third, include “emotional regulation, Iceberg theory, stress, anxiety, anger styles, and calming skills” ("Oklahoma Association of Youth Services", 2009). Fourth, smart choices, peer pressure, and decide, don’t slide. Fifth, looks at cultural awareness and values, teen vs. parent values, and last summary-evaluation-graduation. The list does not provide every lesson that was mentioned in the FTOP program just some of the important topics.
The Youth Cornerstone program however has created five programs over the years. The first according to Harrell (2009), is the Truancy Habits Reduced Increasing Valuable Education (THRIVE) program, “assists parents of chronically truant student to recommit to their child’s education and focuses on truancy and drop out prevention through mediation and Skills Education programming” (para. 6). Second is the 3-D award program to award those who chose to remain drug free. The awards were for discounts in the community and to special events. According to Harrell (2009), third is Youth as Resources:
Created to get youth involved in developing and completing community service projects restoring playgrounds, parks, feeding the homeless, painting murals to beautify school grounds, establishing libraries and study centers in neighborhoods; providing companionship and assistance to residents of nursing homes; and teen moms educating youth about teen pregnancy and the realities of teen pregnancy. (para. 4) [sic]
Fourth, is the Suspension Intervention and Prevention Program (SIPP), which is an accountability program (Harrell, 2011). Youth suspended on long or short term or have been expelled from school he or she is required to attend the SIPP program during school hours to complete schoolwork, participate in a character building and life skills program. SIPP is a 2.0 GED program as well for students 16-18 years (Harrell, 2011). Fifth deals with Art Shaping Character program (ASC) is designed to help children who live in circumstances beyond his or her control (Harrell, 2011). ASC helps the children focus on their problems by utilizing art as a ground to help articulate themselves and is a free preparation to evaluate and prepare student for the GED examination. ASC also provides programming to the SIPP program, area elementary schools, group homes and shelters (Harrell, 2011).
The OAYS program goals relating to FTOP is effectiveness by achieving a recidivism rate of less than 20%, meeting efficiency by striving to achieve at least an 80% rate of completion for youth starting the program, and client satisfaction providing each FTOP client and their parent/legal guardian or family participant with a client satisfaction survey ("Oklahoma Association Of Youth Services", 2009). Youth Cornerstone believes although truancy and the drop-out rate are not popular issues their goal is to continue to fight the battle against it and create opportunities for prevention and intervention programming (Harrell, 2011). However, during the past 20 years in Oklahoma County approximately 27,500 juveniles and families have received service from these programs.

Over the last 100 years juveniles have always broken laws. But going into the 21st century times have change because of the computer age we live in. Juveniles today can access any information on how to commit crimes from robbing banks, selling drugs, auto theft, and how to purchase weapons, and how to make bombs et cetera. The knowledge available to day is far more dangerous than 100 years ago. As a result society should create ways to help or children to refrain from breaking the laws in stead of placing them in the criminal justice system. The focus of this paper described the Oklahoma Association of Youth Services (OAYS) First Time Offenders and the Youth Cornerstone program. Addressed why the programs should work to reduce juvenile crime based on an analysis of the relationship between program premise and goals, as well as one or more major causes of juvenile delinquent behavior.

References
Oklahoma Association of Youth Services. (2009). Retrieved from http://www.oays.org/images/ images/pdfs/OAYS_FTOP_Program_Guide_10-01-09(web).pdf University of Phoenix. (2011). Course Syllabus. Retrieved from University of Phoenix, Juvenile Justice Systems and Processes website.
Youth Cornerstone History. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.youthCornerstone.com/history

References: Oklahoma Association of Youth Services. (2009). Retrieved from http://www.oays.org/images/ images/pdfs/OAYS_FTOP_Program_Guide_10-01-09(web).pdf University of Phoenix. (2011). Course Syllabus. Retrieved from University of Phoenix, Juvenile Justice Systems and Processes website. Youth Cornerstone History. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.youthCornerstone.com/history