Juvenile Detention Centers Essay

Juvenile detention centers are places kids are sent to that are up to eighteen years old because they have done some act that violates the law. These facilities are small and designed to look like a school setting rather than a prison and it insures that the juveniles pose no harm to the outside world. Their ability to harm themselves or others are limited since there are teachers, officers, councilors, and other staff within the facilities. The detention centers are necessary and helpful because it provides adolescents with variety of services, helps change their behavior, and it helps develop insight.
In 1899, the first juvenile court was created in Illinois to ensure the separation of children from adult criminals because the kids are still

growing mentally, physically, and emotionally but in some cases, if the crime is serious enough, they can be tried as an adult. That would be the first out of the two categories that delinquent acts fall under. A crime that would be considered like an adult had committed it. The second category is called “status” crimes, which is something that wouldn’t be a crime if an adult had performed it (“Juvenile Delinquents”, n.d.) like staying out late past their curfew or running away from home in some states. So what leads them to violate the law? According to Peak and Glensor (1996, pg. 38), a major factor which plays a big role is that fifty-seven percent of all children grow up without parental supervision after school because parents are working. This leads to them learning values and behaviors from their peers which can lead to juvenile delinquency. Other factors would be drugs, abuse, getting disrespected constantly, and feeling neglected.
There are several types of services in the detention center that can address those problems and find a way to change that behavior. If someone is having mental health problems, they can see a counselor, teachers, officers, or even a doctor that are trained to deal with kids. This helps deal with and change their behavior because they get one on one attention so they can see that someone cares about them and shows them respect which leads to them wanting to change. This type of treatment is very hard to find in public schools because there are so many kids but so little staff that can actually help that they often get ignored and their delinquent behavior continues. They are also offered education. In a study conducted, problems such as low achievement, vocabulary and verbal reasoning increased delinquency predictions by 27% (Mann & Reynolds, 2006). With a proper school setting and education, it can greatly improve behavior. There are many other services that can be provided. You can change their behavior with association, alcohol and drug counseling, etc.
With getting that attention and the help, it can greatly impact ones behavior.

What’s to say that their behavior doesn’t get worse? That is true but that can be said about any type of solution to juvenile delinquency. It is better to try and help rather than just letting them walk away and continue what they are doing.
Instead of going back to the same bad environment, it is good to get away for a while. When the kids are in the detention center, they are away from whatever toxic thing were effecting them to act upon delinquent thoughts. With that time away, they have a chance to take a step back and think about their actions and try to change their ways with the help of the teachers, counselors, and other staffs. They also see other peers going through the same thing and seeing something from a different perspective can help a ton. So being in the center, it can help change their attitude and behavior overall.
Even though those are great ways the detention centers can help, one problem that keeps coming up is the fact that overcrowding can happen. When there are too many people in the center, it gets hectic plus it is harder to help and have that one on one with each of the kids. One solution to the problem can be opening a community center instead of sending all delinquent youths to the centers, just send the ones that commit a serious crimes like armed robberies, sex offenses and homicides and the ones that don’t fall into the category of “serious” crimes, can be sent to

a community-based programs to better serve them and their parents.
Preventing future repeat offenders, juvenile detention centers are much needed. They provide adolescents with variety of services that include dealing with mental issues, education, drugs, and many other problems. It also helps with their behavior and gives them insight because with all the resources available and getting away from their environment can greatly impact the way one thinks and act.