Introduction
The act of committing crime is conducted by people of different ages through engaging in various criminal activities. A major concern is on the youths in most countries as they seem to engage in criminal activities at a very high rate because of various reasons such as family problems, unemployment, and peer pressure among others with an aim of hiding from or dealing with their disappointments in life.
As a result of this issue, there has been the formation of various diversion programs. These are programs or systems that offer a way in which children and youths who are involved in delinquent activities may be handled in a fast, approachable, and informal manner. Good behavior is usually instilled into them by being taught on the importance of being good citizens and being loyal to their nations, maintaining personal integrity and also the importance of family communication and communication in general as a way of solving problems.
The diversion programs aim at diverting the young people who have already been involved in criminal acts from further involvement in crime (Siegel Welsh, 2008). In this paper, the subject discusses two diversion programs operating in Los Angeles, California specifically the 2nd Call and the Advancement Project Los Angeles; their effects in reducing juvenile crime while emphasizing why the programs should work to reduce it based on an analysis of the relationship between program premise and goals and causes of juvenile delinquent behavior.
The 2nd Call Diversion Program
Juvenile delinquency is an aspect of great concern in Los Angeles as its rate increases day-by-day and even the news programs usually commence with cases of criminal activities perpetrated by these juveniles. The policy makers are therefore concerned with these issues and numerous laws have been enacted to deal with it but have not been very successful. Employment of diversion programs will help solve the problem (Anonymous, 1995).
Juveniles indulge in delinquent behavior as a result of social learning where they imitate people who may behave differently than they do. It could be physical experience or through the media. They can also result to this behavior as a result of child abuse as they tend to fight back through use of violence. Influence of drugs and poor performance in life, especially in academics is also some of the causes (World Youth report, 2003).
The 2nd Call is a community based program that has been developed to help in the personal development of persons who are at risk; for example, the youths or those who are disregarded by the society and are susceptible to criminal activities as a way of fighting back. It aims at appraising the current society development programs that are already in place to come up with the best strategies and practices to deal with the different societal problems.
It helps the persons who are disconnected from the society to have a second chance toward loving life and hence its name, ‘‘2nd Call’’. This program should be engaged in reducing juvenile delinquency as it deals with the systemic causes of the problems and its initiative of assisting in personal development will work quite well. The emphasis on life management skills training by the program is also relevant in reducing juvenile delinquency as most youths indulge in criminal activities as a result of lack of direction in life. This is especially identified where they lack educational skills and become desperate and hopeless.
It also touches on various aspects of enhancing an individual’s life, for instance education, employment, substance abuse, housing, and even health (2nd Call, 2008). The program also advocates for importance of enhancing security for all in society and hence may help the youths not to engage in criminal activities that may interfere with the security of the community. Other strategies like anger management lessons, being ready for job opportunities and how to retain the employment chances, personal development courses and counseling on substance abuse, for instance, a proper psychological and medication regiment will also help deal with the ordeals of juvenile delinquency (University of Southern California, n.d).
The Advancement Project Los Angeles
This is another program that can be employed in dealing with juvenile delinquency in Los Angeles. It was established in 1999 in both Washington D.C., and Los Angeles by some lawyers who sought to enhance lives of all people. For instance, through ensuring that they are able to participate in various activities in the community without barriers; ensuring that people are not discriminated for example on racial basis; and expanding opportunities for all. It aims at establishing sustainable progress through application of appropriate laws and policies, technology, research, and effective communication.
It also facilitates education by eliminating barriers to attainment of quality education, especially to the poor and also enhances democracy by promoting participation of the poor and the minority ethnic groups, for example: through fighting for equal voting rights. Carrying out of strategic projects is also an agenda of this program and hence it helps solve various community problems. The program works in close collaboration with other organizations and groups that enhance equality and social justice in all aspects of life.
The Advancement Project is very appropriate in the reduction of juvenile delinquency through its emphasis on equality, especially in uplifting the living standards of the poor and the disconnected persons in the society. When the living standards of the youths are enhanced, for instance through provision of education, there are fewer chances of the youths engaging in criminal behaviors or continuing to perpetrate delinquent behavior as they can live a more comfortable life as opposed to when they would be disappointed with life and hence seek for ways of handling their situations that in most cases entails immoral behavior.
Equity in all life aspect is essential as it helps people feel well represented and hence they are ready to live positively without indulgence in violent and criminal activities like being involved in drugs abuse and trafficking, gangs, and other organized crime groups. The Advancement Project is very appropriate to juvenile diversion as it works on the principle of instilling hope to the less fortunate by improving their living standard (Advancement project, 2008).
Conclusion
The youths are very important in any nation as they are the future population. The society should therefore invest much on the youths to ensure that they are well shaped or molded and that they can be of importance to the nation as they approach adulthood. Engagement in programs that can intervene the youth from bad behaviors such as drug abuse and other criminal activities is therefore an important act because it promotes a bright future. The diversion programs are therefore of essence and their existence and work towards shaping the youths should never be underemphasized.
References
Advancement project. (2008). Closing the Opportunity Gap. Web.
Anonymous (1995). Juvenile Crime: Part I. LAO. Web.
Siegel, J.L. and Welsh C.B. (2008). Juvenile Delinquency: Theory, Practice, and Law.10th ed. USA: Cengage Learning.
University of Southern California (n.d.). Resources: Gang Prevention/ Intervention & Immigration. Web.
World Youth report. (2003). Juvenile Delinquency. Web.
2nd Call. (2008). The Beginning of 2nd Call. Web.