Juvenile Justice Case Management

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Conclusion
References

Introduction

When people who have not attained the age of majority commit crimes, they have to face the criminal justice system for justice to prevail. However, their treatment is somewhat different with that of adult offenders considering the age factor and the fact that some of them may not have the mental capability to perceive the gravity of their actions.

Over the years, there has been a pressing need for justice systems in various jurisdictions to come up with various techniques of case management as a way of offering assistance to the people who have been convicted for various crimes in jails.

While people convicted of various crimes are seen as a threat to society and thus the need to seclude them, it is important to remember that there are various issues especially health matters that affect those incarcerated. It is this reason that has necessitated the need of adoption of methods to deal with some of the problems that such people face. The focus of this discussion is the case management approach that is applied in juvenile justice.

Purpose and Goal of Juvenile Justice Case Management

When juveniles are incarcerated or put behind bars for having committed crimes, this whole experience affects them mentally especially due to their tender age. The same also affects adult offenders. The purpose and goal of case management for both juveniles and adult offenders is to ensure that the experience they go through due to incarceration does not later lead to recidivism, mental disorders, or developmental problems (Robert, 2004, p. 76).

Various programs have therefore been developed by the justice systems in various jurisdictions with the help of social workers and medical practitioners which focus on the holistic aspect of an individual. Being able to take a juvenile detainee through the criminal justice system while applying these technique and ensures that they go back to the society unscathed is the challenge and thus responsibility of case management officials.

Case Management Models

There are two main models of case management. One of the models is strength based and focuses on the strengths and capabilities of a detained juvenile. This model puts much emphasis on those talents which the client has identified on his own and they are nurtured through the service and treatment plan adopted for him.

Under this model the manager in charge of implementing the treatment plan on the client is expected to have great regard for the juvenile and that such a person has an inward ability to discover on their own the capabilities and talents that they may have (Grisso, 2005, p.98).

The assertive model on the other hand is more forced on the client where services are delivered aggressively to the client. In this model, the managers in charge will have to go out of their way and seek out the clients so as to link them with offices that provide the treatment services that such a client may require.

Necessary Elements for Effective Implementation of the Practice

Traditionally, a case manager was viewed as a service broker whose main function was to search and broker for services much needed by his client. However, over time, there have been proposals to change this perception and come up with key elements that would ensure effective implementation of this practice. The include intake which involves creating a good relationship between the manager and the client and helping the client respond positively to the treatment plan.

Assessment is another key element which involves a general evaluation of how well the client is responding to the treatment plan. Classification is yet another important element which involves classifying offenders depending on the crimes committed so as to correctly establish which treatment plan best suits each juvenile offender (Ghezi & Loughran, 2005, p.76).

Referral is important and it is based on the needs of an individual client. Intervention is also crucial and involves identifying the needs of a client and matching them with the available treatment services. What then follows is monitoring to ensure that clients stick to the treatment programs for which they have been linked to.

Evaluation is also important where the manager in charge of a client carries out an assessment to establish whether the client has been receiving the treatment services and whether they have benefited from the program (Krisberg & Austin, 1993, p. 543). Advocacy involves recommendations that a manager may provide to help improve a certain treatment program.

Solutions to Potential Problems

Some of the solutions to challenges faced in implementing this practice would involve change of policies and laws which make it easy for case managers and clients to work together as well as make some mediation on behalf of the client.

Different programs developed for offenders

The various treatment programs available are developed with varying categories of offenders in mind. There are some programs that require that one client is handles by various managers. In such a case, every manager is assigned a role that is specific and different from the roles of other managers (Krisberg, 2005, p. 43).

Usually, the case managers, having carried out an assessment will determine which program best fits every individual offender. By classifying and developing the various programs, the needs of various young offenders who have mental health issues, history of abuse and drug addiction are met. Role of parents, schools and other specific service providers in cross-disciplinary treatment

It has always been a challenge for most case managers to ensure continuity of the treatment services provided to offenders (Butts & Roman, 2004, p, 56). This is because, once they have been released from custody, it is not always easy to follow up with them and ensure that they stick to the treatment plan. This is where the society at large comes in. Parents, schools and juvenile courts have been playing a contributory role in adding case managers look after these juveniles when they have been released back to the society.

Chicago Area Project, New York City’s Mobilisation For Youth and Boston’s Mid-City Project

The above named projects were all started with the aim and goals of helping rehabilitating juvenile offenders back into the society by helping them through the various treatment programs that were assigned to each. All these projects were community based in the sense that they came about as a joint venture of the community.

Success of the Projects

These projects were a success as they helped provide accommodation for juveniles released from incarceration and who are still finding it hard to fit in a society that once condemned them as criminals. Through these projects, a great number of juvenile offenders have been transformed by being encouraged to attend their treatment programs.

Conclusion

Offenders, both juvenile and adult though they may have committed crimes against crimes must be treated in a way that will help them not go back to the same crimes that they committed once they have been released back to the society and thus the need to come up with case management models.

References

Butts, J. & Roman, J. (2004). Juvenile drug courts and teen substance abuse. New York: The Urban Institute

Ghezi, S. & Loughran, E. (2005). Balancing juvenile justice. New York: Transaction Publishers

Grisso, T. (2005). Mental health screening and assessment and juvenile justice. California: Guilford Press

Krisberg, B. & Austin, J. (1993). Reinventing juvenile justice. London: Sage.

Krisberg, B. (2005). Juvenile Justice: Redeeming our Children. London: Sage

Robert, A. (2004). Juvenile justice sourcebook: past, present, and future. Michigan: Oxford University Press.

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