Juvenile Justice Process and corrections

Arica Kritz
CJA/374
January 27, 2014
Joseph Maffia

Introduction

Every child within the juvenile justice proceedings will receive an individualized plan for rehabilitation, (sometimes this may include punishment). This plan is specialized for the specific needs of the juvenile and with success the results will produce a law abiding and high functioning juvenile, in which will help guarantee these positive behaviors through adulthood.

Case study Seventeen year old Xander L. is a black male with a history of gang affiliation amongst several criminal behaviors beginning at the age of 13 (i.e., stealing a purse, breaking and entering, and possessing drugs.) As a result of his criminal activities Xander has been on probation twice and has spent a year in a juvenile correctional facility. His most current violation (in which he pleaded guilty) of the law was possession of a concealed weapon. Xander lives with his mother in a high crime neighborhood and he does not have a relationship with his father. His mother is a working adult who does not enable Xander’s behaviors, for she has called the police on him in the past. However, Xander and his mother are close as a result he would like to receive his general equivalency diploma (GED) to make his mother happy.

After Arrest
As a result of Xander’s possession of a concealed weapon, a law enforcement professional arrests the juvenile. Considering Xander’s extensive history with the juvenile system, along with carrying a deadly weapon, and the victim’s input, the officer decides to detain and charge the juvenile (A typical juvenile delinquency case, n.d.), meanwhile the Xander is held in an adult penitentiary until his mother is contacted. Once his mother is contacted she agrees with the officer’s decision to detain her son and to also continue on with the legal