Why Is Juvenile Corrections Better Than Adults

How should juvenile offenders be treated in the American criminal justice system? This is one of the most pressing questions in the field of criminal justice today. Juvenile offenders are treated quite differently than the adults in the American criminal justice system, and nowhere can that difference be clearer than in the corrections system. Historically, juveniles were treated as less responsible for their actions than adults, and subjected to different methods of correction than adults, even if the same prisons often contained both. For years the juvenile justice system has struggled to find effective methods of correction. Often, treatment depends on the type of juvenile offender, whether status offender or criminal offender. Is punishment
Most non-institutional means of corrections are cost-efficient and produce lower recidivism rates than traditional institutional corrections when used appropriately(cite?). Usually programs attempt to foster family and community bonds, offer education and vocational training, and encourage good social behavior. Common programs include probation, electronic monitoring, residential programs, day-treatment facilities, and community-based corrections among others. Probation is a common disposition for juvenile offenders and is similar in a number of ways to adult offenders’ probation. Juveniles sentenced to probation must report to a probation officer on a set schedule, abide by the conditions of probation, and obey the law. Probation allows the supervision of juvenile offenders as a means of trying to prevent future offensive behavior while making sure the youth has a clear impression of the law’s authority. Probation also allows a greater ability to focus on rehabilitative programs while not completely denying the offender their freedom. Electronic monitoring is a form of juvenile delinquent supervision usually used in conjunction with home detention (house arrest). The juvenile is usually required to wear a location-monitoring device and restricted to their residence with a few exceptions such as school and church services as conditions of their treatment. Unfortunately, while more cost-efficient than traditional detention methods, home detention and electronic monitoring don't seem to improve recidivism rates(cite?). Community treatment facilities have an extreme variety of focuses and methods from wilderness training courses to residential programs to achieve their goals, but they all have some things in common: the focus on rehabilitation of the offender by some means and the placement of the offender in the community. Residential programs are a