Introduction
The juvenile justice system was introduced to process young offenders. The increased cases of youthful offenders led to juvenile courts’ introduction, which operates as a social welfare agency (Alida et al., 2016). The system led to various ways of dealing with the minors accused of violating laws, such as shock incarceration. The approach entails short-term prison programs in a military atmosphere, which involve giving the offenders independence and structure and promoting responsibility in the learning environment. In this case, experts believe that programs which combine educational, vocational, and drug treatment programs can be used to ensure that juveniles change their bad behaviors. However, shock incarceration has some advantages and disadvantages that can be analyzed to determine its effectiveness and recidivism prevention.
Advantages of Shock Incarceration
One of the advantages of shock incarceration is that it encourages self-discipline since participants are strictly monitored as they participate in daily activities such as cleaning living areas, personal hygiene, and work assignments. Constructive behaviors are also encouraged in shock incarceration since the offenders are trained to acquire skills to involve themselves in productive activities in the community (Alida et al., 2016). For instance, the participants engage in the maintenance of community parks, storm clean-up, and renovation work in local and state governments. The militaristic approach is also essential in changing attitudes towards the use of alcohol. In this case, juveniles are counseled on avoiding alcohol abuse and the dangers of drug abuse. Additionally, binge drinking among youth has become common in many states, making boot camps a robust approach to curb alcohol abuse. Another imperative aspect of shock incarceration is that it provides enlightening programs to the participants. In this case, education is mandatory for shock participants as three hours of each day are devoted to structured classroom activities. Therefore, the various advantages of shock incarceration reveal that juveniles can benefit from the programs and avoid unlawful acts.
Disadvantages of Shock Incarceration
One of the significant disadvantages of shock incarceration is its impact on the mental health of the participants. The primary military training may be harsh for some young people, causing them to develop stress. Thus, many participants in the programs have developed psychological conditions such as anxiety and sadness. Incarceration entails limiting the contact of juveniles with the outside world. Participants can only communicate with the staff and other inmates, and parents may sometimes come to visit them, but these visits are short and not frequent. Many boot camp participants also experience low self-esteem since the environment limits them from enjoying life.
Conclusion
The justice system should guarantee that people live according to the laws and policies implemented. Offenders should also be arraigned in court and experience fair sentencing. Ways of correcting the offenders should also be appropriate and effective. Therefore, the juvenile justice system can ensure that correcting the juveniles is productive and prevents them from engaging in criminal activities. For instance, shock incarceration can correct young offenders and confirm that recidivism is prevented. Nonetheless, the justice structure should analyze the shock incarceration approach’s advantages and disadvantages and develop ways to limit the weaknesses and increase the strengths. For instance, the system can warrant that the participants can contact their parents weekly to prevent them from having anxiety and low self-esteem. Limiting the harshness experienced during training can also be vital as it can reduce stress among the participants.
Reference
Alida V. M., Peter J. B., & Dean J. C. (2016). The juvenile justice system: Delinquency, processing, and the law (8th ed.). Pearson.