Alternatives to Incarceration and Juvenile Detention Reform

The issue I would like to address in this proposal is alternatives to incarceration and juvenile detention reform. Alternatives to detention and confinement are approaches taken to prevent juveniles from being placed in either secure detention or confinement facilities when other treatment options, community-based sanctions, or residential placements are more appropriate (Faruqee). There are many ways to discipline children other than incarcerating them and taking their freedoms away. Among the 50 states, Colorado, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Nebraska, New Jersey, and New York are working to find a solution to address the on-going issues of juvenile incarceration. The states have enacted measures that address risk assessment and detention alternatives and services. Not only does this issue affect juveniles and their parents, this issue affects the citizens in all the 50 states whether they are aware of the law or not. Statistics show that incarceration and juvenile detention drastically affects children both psychologically and physically. Incarceration and juvenile detention have been on ongoing for many years, with a substantial increase between 2015 and 2017. In this paper, it examines the alternative ways to discipline a child rather than incarceration. As stated by Bernstein (2014), “alternatives to secure detention and confinement are intended to reduce crowding, cut the costs of operating juvenile detention centers, shield offenders from the stigma of institutionalization, help offenders avoid associating with youths who have more serious delinquent histories, and maintain positive ties between the juvenile and his or her family and community.” Should juveniles be incarcerated or have a less severe punishment such as home arrest for the offense they have committed? To prevent this cruel punishment, we must pass laws that no longer incarcerate juveniles for non-violent offenses.

(Word Count: 281)

Citations:

Bernstein, N. (2014). Burning Down the House: The End of Juvenile Prison. New York, NY: The New Press

Faruqee, M. Youth Prisons Don’t Work. Here’s What Does. Time, 2016. Web.