Essay On Rehabilitation Vs Incarceration

The dichotomy of rehabilitation vs. incarceration is most obvious in the Juvenile Justice System. Thousands of exemplary programs of rehabilitation of juvenile offenders have been developed over the past 30 years. These programs have undergone extensive recidivism analysis by outside auditors and have been successfully replicated in jurisdictions throughout the United States. Programs of incarceration of juvenile offenders are dismal failures and precipitated a growing crime rate in both the juvenile and adult criminal justice systems. The increasing juvenile violent behavior of the '90s reversed the momentum and society urges the practice of incarceration of juvenile offender; ergo many juveniles are being adjudicated in adult court and …show more content…
Many programs do not feature secure vigilant environments; rather they work with youth in the communities in which they reside, attend school, and work. The use of impartial classification and risk assessment models at various decision points in the juvenile justice system has proven successful in the appropriate alternative placement of juvenile offenders without compromising public security (OJJDP, 2005, p. 23). “These restorations can be achieved by several methods; ergo, through new program initiatives or legislation, administrative, or litigation based reforms, each jurisdiction bears the responsibility for enhancing its programmatic alternatives to meet the needs of the youth it serves” (OJJDP, 2005, p. 24). Jesus identified Himself with God in His loving attitude to the lost. In the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15: 11-32) it is not so much about the conversion of the sinner, rather the restoration of the relationship of the believer with God. Christians are called to emulate Christ thus, embracing the spirit of graciousness and goodness when assisting those who are lost reflects the wisdom of the One Living and True