Teens And The Contrivenation Program In The Juvenile...

All programs have limitations to them and they are not all perfect. Downs, Robertson and Harrison did a study on the diversion program and the effectiveness it had in helping drug abusers. They observed 127 clients total, ages 13-17. They found that the diversion program they used with these adolescents was not effective and led to negative self-labels and more deviant behavior. They found that some adolescents that were sent to this program were not heavy drug users and had family issues, but due to the program being drug based it led to the negative self-label of drug abuser. This program didn’t have many restorative aspects to it. Diversion programs for juveniles should be separate from juveniles who need support to fix a drug addiction†¦show more content†¦The frontal lobe of the brain is involved in many things two of the most important things that relate to juvenile delinquency are their problem-solving skills and moral judgment skills. The myelination and pruni ng of the brain has been found to continue well into mid-20’s (Arnett,2017). This is one of the first lessons that lawmakers and people in society need to learn. The other issue that lawmakers, judges and society need to be aware of is the effects of labeling. Labeling can affect a juvenile throughout their lives. In the Idaho code 20-509 it says that once a juvenile is tried as an adult they will always be tried as an adult. Labeling a juvenile as an adult in the eye of the law could possibly lead to recidivism. Downs, Robertson and Harrison discuss that one of the repercussions of a more deviant label can increase the likelihood of more deviant behavior in the future. Deviant labels can weaken a juvenile’s bonds to society, there are less possibilities for jobs, and it could leads to a juvenile to have a harder time in school (Downs, Robertson Harrison, 1997). When there is a weakened connection to the community you run in to the juvenile giving up trying to conform to the expectations set out for them. As described in Merton’s General Strain theory and innovation. When people feel like they don’t have the