Future Trends: Kid Crime Yesterday, Today, And Tomorrow
CharLee Williams
CJ 501—Trends
Galbraith
Final Paper
Juvenile Justice, Corrections, and Future Trends:
Kid Crime Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow?
When one thinks about juvenile crime, many different thoughts come to mind. Do we think about high profile cases such as Columbine? Do we think about random acts of gang violence? Do we think about William Lembcke, the 16-year-old boy from Colville, Washington who killed his entire family (his sister, brother, step-dad, and mother) during the Christmas holiday two year ago because he was told to chop some firewood? As we think about him, we realize that he could be the boy we used to baby-sit, a loner we went to school with but never really talked to, or a boy we used to date. Did this act …show more content…
However, the study goes on to ask some difficult questions: How many kids are really committing crimes? How many juveniles are committing murder and whom do they murder? In 1997, juvenile homicides were the lowest in the decade, but still higher than those during the 80s. According to this study, the majority of these homicide victims are male and between 1980 and 1997, 93% of the juvenile homicide offenders were male. More than 56% were African-American, and 88% of juvenile homicide offenders were age 15 and older (54). Even with the numbers of juvenile offenders increasing, it must be stated again that juvenile crime is not something …show more content…
“The nineteen states that have restorative juvenile justice statutes are: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Utah, Virginia, and Washington” (Seymour and Gregorie 3). However, it cannot be forgotten that, “The roots of restorative justice are in ancient practices, but it is fair to say that criminologists have played an important role in the modern revival of restorative justice” (Roach 14). As one can see, “restorative justice is on the rise,” or is it? (Roach 3). It is this writer’s hope that more states will embrace restorative justice and utilize it as an alternative to just sending kids to
CJ 501—Trends
Galbraith
Final Paper
Juvenile Justice, Corrections, and Future Trends:
Kid Crime Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow?
When one thinks about juvenile crime, many different thoughts come to mind. Do we think about high profile cases such as Columbine? Do we think about random acts of gang violence? Do we think about William Lembcke, the 16-year-old boy from Colville, Washington who killed his entire family (his sister, brother, step-dad, and mother) during the Christmas holiday two year ago because he was told to chop some firewood? As we think about him, we realize that he could be the boy we used to baby-sit, a loner we went to school with but never really talked to, or a boy we used to date. Did this act …show more content…
However, the study goes on to ask some difficult questions: How many kids are really committing crimes? How many juveniles are committing murder and whom do they murder? In 1997, juvenile homicides were the lowest in the decade, but still higher than those during the 80s. According to this study, the majority of these homicide victims are male and between 1980 and 1997, 93% of the juvenile homicide offenders were male. More than 56% were African-American, and 88% of juvenile homicide offenders were age 15 and older (54). Even with the numbers of juvenile offenders increasing, it must be stated again that juvenile crime is not something …show more content…
“The nineteen states that have restorative juvenile justice statutes are: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Utah, Virginia, and Washington” (Seymour and Gregorie 3). However, it cannot be forgotten that, “The roots of restorative justice are in ancient practices, but it is fair to say that criminologists have played an important role in the modern revival of restorative justice” (Roach 14). As one can see, “restorative justice is on the rise,” or is it? (Roach 3). It is this writer’s hope that more states will embrace restorative justice and utilize it as an alternative to just sending kids to