CORRECTION, REHABILITATION, PENAL INSTITUTIONS, CRIME PREVENTION

TERMINOLOGYYOUTH/MINORS/ADOLESCENTS DELINQUENTS/OFFENDERS CAN BE: ACCUSED OF CHARGED WITH CONVICTED OF/FOUND GUILTY or FOUNd INNOCENT SENTENCED TO

• Young people who have committed a crime/offended the law/broken the law are classified as 'young offenders'. They are not treated as adults – they receive specialised help and punishment for their crimes.

• If it is the child’s first or second minor offence, (opposite - serious crime) the police can give them reprimands or warnings without sending them to court.

Juvenile delinquency

• Juvenile delinquency refers to antisocial or illegal behaviour by children or adolescents, called juvenile delinquents or young offenders.

Juvenile offenders in the CR

Youth:

• – child under 15 years of age: a person who did not accomplish 15 years of age at the time of committing an act otherwise considered as crime

• – juvenile: a person who accomplished 15 years of age but did not exceed 18 years of age at the time of committing an offence (crime) (young offender, juvenile offender)

Adult offender

– from 18 years of age (full criminal responsibility)

Criminal Justice Systém in the Czech Republic

There are:

• special young offenders’ institutions,

• special prison departments for juveniles, female prisoners and mothers with children

Juvenile Delinquency and Crime
Crimes and behaviors youth may be arrested for include the following:

Violent Crimes:

Assault
Homicide
Rape
Robbery
Arson
Auto theft
Burglary
Theft
Vandalism
Weapons possession

Sexual Offenses:

Prostitution
Rape
Prostitution

Drug and Alcohol Violations:

Driving under the influence (DUI)
Drunk and disorderly conduct
Drug abuse
Liquor law violations
Drug Possession
Intent to Sell Drugs

Status Offenses:

Curfew violations
Incorrigibility

- (refusal to obey parents)
Running away
Truancy
Underage alcohol consumption

Why do they offend?

• There are many reasons why young people may get into trouble. These may stem from reasons including:

• Lack of discipline at home and in school;

• Bad communication between parents and teenagers;

• Peer pressure;

• Violence at home;

• Money problems;

• Poor housing;

• Instability;

• Low grades at school;

• Availability of drugs and alcohol;

• Bullying and alienation;

• Hyperactivity;

• Learning problems;

• Mental health problems

• "A lot of young people are very bored

• Some live in situations where they don't really care what happens to them.“

• "Also, young people want excitement, to take some risks, to try things out and be a bit naughty. Once you get into that cycle and commit an offence, it's actually very hard to get out of it."

JUVENILE COURT

• Unlike normal court proceedings, which are almost always open to the public, juvenile courts are usually closed to the public.

• Juvenile records can be sealed (cannot be seen), and are sometimes even cleared when the juvenile reaches a certain age (usually eighteen or twenty-one)- to enable a FRESH START.

THE COURT MAY:

• Place the delinquent in the care of an institution to take care of him/her

• Place the delinquent in an alternative incarceration program

• Order the delinquent to participate in a treatment program

• Order the child to work in public buildings or private property

• Order the child to take part in the reparation of the damage he/she caused

DETENTION

• generally refers to a holding a person in a particular place (generally called a detention centre), either for interrogation, or as punishment for a crime.

• Child imprisonment is a concept in criminal law where people are considered not old enough to be held responsible for their criminal acts.

• The age which a juvenile is considered an adult for criminal prosecutions is referred to as the

"age of infancy.“

Correctional and Penal institutions

• The juvenile prison system works under the same philosophy as the rest of the justice system, focusing more on rewarding good behavior, rather than punishing bad.

• Delinquents being held in these facilities are given the opportunity (and are usually ordered by the court) to attend schooling and receive their high school diplomas.

• Many detention centers offer the inmates a chance to have jobs working around the prison, such as being a teacher’s assistant, gardener, or kitchen staff member.

The age of criminal responsibility in other countries:

• Australia : 10

• Canada : 12

• India : 7

• Italy : 14

• Ireland : 10

• Germany : 14

• Poland : 17, in some situations 15

• Russia : 16, but for the hardest crimes 14

• UnitedStates : 6-12 (Differs from state to state. The most common age is 7.)

• The Czech Republic 15

• A youth detention center, also known as a juvenile detention center

• is a secure residential facility for young people, often termed offender young offenders or juvenille delinquents, awaiting court hearings and/or placement in long-term care facilities and programs.

• Juveniles are held in detention centers to ensure appearance in court and to protect public safety.

WHAT IS IT LIKE BEHIND THE WIRE?

• The regime of a young offenders institution is much the same as that of an adult prison. However, there are some slight differences, notably the lower staff to offender ratio.

• Prisoners/inmates serving sentences at young offenders institutions are expected to take part in at least 25 hours of education per week, which is aimed at helping them to improve their behaviour, to develop practical skills for use in the outside world and to prepare them for lawful employment following their release.

• There are also opportunities for prisoners to work in Community Service or Volunteer programmes.

Prevention

• Prevention services include activities such as substance abuse education and treatment, family counselling, youth mentoring, parenting education, educational support, etc.

Controversies

• Young Offender Institutions have historically been the target of criticism from both the public and Government. Problems have included:

- suicides, bullying and unsafe conditions for prisoners.

• Critics of such institutions argue that lack of occupation and intimidating atmospheres hamper rehabilitation work.

• Indeed, the effect of incarceration has the opposite intended effect: with little to occupy them and in the company of other offenders, detainees/inmates may encouraged to stay on the road to a life of crime.

Social service and counselling

• Youth and community workers help young people to learn, grow and develop, and encourage them to play a positive role in the community.

• What Kind of Jobs are there if you want to work with Young Offenders?

• There are a variety of different careers to choose from; here are just a few:

• Social worker

• Youth worker

• Volunteer worker

• Youth Justice Officer

Youth workers

• organising enjoyable activities, such as sports, art or drama

• supporting young people to develop ideas and make changes in their lives

• organising outings and breaks to places like outward bound and activity centres

• supporting young people in organising their own activities and projects

• raising awareness about issues such as health and politics

• supporting young people in developing skills such as literacy and numeracy

• working with specific groups such as young people who are homeless.

Working with young offenders

• Working with young offenders is a challenging and often moving experience. It is important to remember that whilst working with them they are often on probation.

• Many young offenders have been in trouble more than once and the system feels it necessary to hand down a custodial sentence in order to try and rehabilitate them. This means that they will be sent to a Young Offenders Institution which is one step down from the adult prison system.

• Here young offenders are given the opportunity to talk with counsellors about the nature of their offending and also get help with finding work on the outside and also re-educating them.

 
The main objectives of Young Offenders programs and services are to:

• hold youth accountable for their unlawful behaviour;

• ensure society is protected from youth who offend, particularly dangerous youth or chronic offenders;

• work with youth to reduce the likelihood they will re-offend.

What do the statistics say?

• According to the Prison Reform Trust, over two-thirds are expected to re-offend within two years of release, with over 40% returning to prison. With men, the reconviction rate rises to 82%.

• There are many young offenders in our society today; some of whom have chosen to break the law of their own accord whilst some have been unfortunately sucked into it by friends or gangs.

• Young offenders come from all walks of life and as such it is hard to generalise.

• Regardless of what makes them young offenders they need help and support from youth workers and probation officers to try and help them get back on the right path – REHABILITATE/RESOCIALISE.