Rebuilding lives while strenghtening
communities
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June 18, 2011 |
 A
basic question about the juvenile justice system
has been how much weight to place on
rehabilitation versus holding juveniles
accountable for their actions. Perhaps, there is
no real division between rehabilitation and
accountability. Juvenile offenders can take
personal responsibility for their actions by
complying with their penalties and turning their
lives around. Idaho’s juvenile justice system is
successfully working with offenders to help them
rehabilitate and change their lives, a benefit
to Idaho families and communities.
More than 100 years ago, the first juvenile
court was established in the United States. The
Congressional Research Service (CRS) indicates
that the “key elements of the juvenile justice
system as it was originally conceived were the
welfare of the child and the concept that
delinquent children could be transformed into
productive citizens through treatment.” With
some influence from the federal government,
states and local governments have primarily
managed juvenile justice that in recent years
has trended toward increased emphasis on
sanctions. However, according to CRS, to some
extent, there is an arbitrary distinction
between rehabilitating juveniles and holding
them accountable for their actions, as the
system includes both rehabilitative and
accountability based programs.
Created 105 years ago, Idaho’s juvenile justice
system was established on the assertion that
rectifying the causes of criminal behavior
through education, health and mental health
treatment, vocational direction and other
pro-social interventions will improve community
safety and reduce future criminal offenses.
After assessment of how to improve the
efficiency and effectiveness of Idaho’s juvenile
justice system, in 1995, the Idaho legislature
created the Idaho Department of Juvenile
Corrections. The purposes of the system are “to
improve balanced attention to the protection of
the community, the imposition of accountability
for offenses committed and development of
competencies to enable juvenile offenders to
become responsible and productive members of the
community.”
So often, the crimes capture attention while the
significant progress and restoration of those
who turn away from crime go unnoticed. According
to the Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections,
of the approximately 5,500 juveniles on
probation a year in Idaho, 95 percent remain in
their home communities, in county programs and
under county supervision, and the vast majority
of these youth go on to become productive Idaho
citizens. The Coalition for Juvenile Justice
(CJJ) recognizes young adults who have made
great strides after involvement with the
juvenile justice system to overcome personal
obstacles and make significant contributions to
society. Andrew Peterman, who is graduating from
Boise State University this year with a degree
in Psychology, received CJJ’s 2011 Spirit of
Youth Award for his personal triumphs,
professional achievements and extraordinary
service to others. Andrew plans to pursue a
graduate degree in social work.
Our future is subject to the objectives of our
children, and we benefit from next generations
who focus on encouraging each other and building
up our communities, while not choosing to cause
trouble and hurt others. We can show all of our
nation’s youth a better way and how to build a
better life. Those who take lessons from their
mistakes and rebuild themselves serve as
examples for others who may be struggling to
chart a new course. Idaho’s juvenile justice
system is endeavoring to make Idaho a place
where every child can grow up in safe
communities and have the opportunity to be
productive, contributing citizens—a goal worthy
of pursuit.
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U.S. Senator Mike Crapo
R-Idaho |
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