Communities all over the world have placed a significant emphasis on punitive measures for individuals deemed to have engaged in criminal or antisocial behaviors. Indeed, the criminal justice system as whole relies almost exclusively on punishment. Once it is determined that an individual has engaged in some form of unlawful behavior, the criminal justice system may implement a wide variety of consequences intended to reduce the future likelihood that the behavior will occur again. However, while intended to improve the behavior patterns that led to the punishment, these consequences rarely produce the desired effect, often lead to further harm for the individual, and can have a detrimental impacts on the wider community. Moreover, non-white people are disproportionately the subjects of punitive criminal justice programs.
More can (must) be done to improve the juvenile justice system in the U.S.
Here is what this Action Circle is up to:
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Compiling a list of currently used intervention practices within the juvenile justice system.
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Compiling a list of evidence-based prevention and intervention practices for criminal and antisocial behaviors.
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Interviewing experts on juvenile justice practices and/or prevention and intervention practices
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Identify communities and/or organizations currently implementing (or not implementing) evidence-based practices thereby laying the foundation for subsequent Action Circles to work in those communities.
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Writing of a comprehensive paper on the topic. (Click here to download our Guide)