Analysis
Jane Doe, a sixteen-year-old Louisiana high-school student, was arrested on Sept. 21, 2021, for simple marijuana possession. She has no prior criminal record and is eligible for Operation Do-Over. As deputy chief of police, I suggest the offender participates in the Operation Do-Over program in place of prosecution. Jane Doe attends school regularly and has been positively characterized by her teachers and the school’s principal. There have been no prior drug-related incidents recorded in her profile. The offender is not associated with other registered offenders; neither has she shown any delinquent behavior in the past. Jane Doe’s family, her ten-year-old brother David and their single mother, Catherine Doe, are currently being evicted from their house due to nonpayment of rent. It appears that problems in the offender’s family could account for her recent episode of criminal behavior. Considering Jane Doe’s overall positive characteristics, I find the traditional criminal procedure irrelevant in the case. The diversion program should help the offender reconsider her criminal behavior and learn the negative consequences of criminal offenses without being subjected to criminal prosecution. The program will allow Jane Doe to continue her education at Louisiana high school, which she describes as her primary objective.
Response
In place of prosecution, I suggest the offender takes part in one individual counseling session. Jane Doe will have a one-hour-long meeting with a juvenile justice counselor, who will evaluate her current state, and her readiness for rehabilitation and propose a meaningful plan for her future. She will also take part in the community service labor program. Since she was arrested with a simple passion for marijuana (less than 4 ounces), the duration of her community service should not exceed 5 hours. At the end of the Program, Jane Doe should draft a reflection letter and appear before a youth court of her peers to have the reflection letter reviewed. A therapist will also interview the offender at the end of the program to evaluate the impact of the procedure on the minor’s psychological state.
Assessment
As deputy chief of police, I view the possibility of implementing the Operation Over-Do program as an efficient and meaningful alternative to criminal justice. Jane Doe’s case of minor violation is just one of many cases when criminal prosecution is much more expensive and, taking into account the potential for recidivism, far less effective measure. The program’s ultimate goal is to create a long-term system in which criminal behavior in minors is treated prevailingly by juvenile counselors and therapists instead of punishing low-level offenders on the state level. Jane Doe’s first arrest could lead to her incarceration under our current legislature, which is unlikely to contribute to her future. Her participation in the program will be an educational experience and put the juvenile offender in touch with professionals who can understand the motives of her behavior instead of giving Jane Doe an actual criminal sentence at a correctional facility. Working together with a juvenile counselor, a therapist, and a social worker will help the offender reconsider her behavior and also might help her find solutions to her current problems, which might have influenced the episode. As someone, who frequently deals with low-level juvenile offenders, I can say that implementing diversion programs instead of prosecution can be life-changing for many young offenders. Supporting therapy and social security services rather than additionally funding the overloaded criminal justice system should contribute to safety and reduce crime levels in our neighborhoods.
Reference
Tallian, K. (2019). It’s time to decriminalize marijuana possesion. Indianapolis Business Journal, 40(33), 4B-5B.