Term Paper on the Modernization of Juvenile Delinquency

I. Industrialization
When a country moves from agriculture to machine-based physical production, Subsistence farming rapidly turns into moneymaking. Inhabitants who were dislocated from their farm work because of machinery were migrating to the city to find employment. This led to urbanization, which in turn caused the cities to burst at the seams.
 

II. Urbanization
As the wealth of the upper classes increased, so does the stealing. The huge urban centers also created another dilemma; the work place was now separated from the home. Due to the harsh conditions, both parents have to take jobs. There was also very little for the youths to do, particularly when schools were close. It was then that unsupervised youths indulged in stealing, as moveable goods were easily available. Theft became a way of life.
The massive arrival of people to these urban areas besieged the cities. The factories could not carry on, and unemployment became an issue. Poverty became widespread.

III. Salvage Attempts
Poorhouses were built to keep young criminals away from trouble. The plan behind them was to take the children of the "dangerous" classes out of their "dangerous environment." Kids were thought to be salvageable needed to be saved. The bulk of these children were rounded up for the crime of being poor, not because they committed a crime. These houses, sometimes referred as reform schools, were very harsh. This was opposed to the idea that they needed nurturing and love.
 

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What are juvenile boot camps?
Juvenile boot camps are correctional programs for delinquent youth in a military-style environment.

Parents stressed with a disturbed teen or pre-adolescent, frequently threats them to sending them to a military school! In recent years, temporary boot camps have often been the new threat over long-term military schools. Before sending a disturbed teenager with behavioral and emotional problems to a boot camp, it's essential to know what these boot camps are and how successful (or not) they are in transforming angry, discontented, and stressed teens.
 

The theory behind many boot camps is that if you shout enough at children and discipline them, they will "get in line." Annoyed, rebellious, disobedient teenagers may fall in line while in an extremely awe-inspiring, military-like setting of a boot camp, but in most cases these quick-fix "scream camps" do not create permanent transformation in disturbed teens. It is more probable this sort of setting will create more aggression and bitterness toward authority figures. When adolescents are struggling to find their place in the world, they need to learn how to ‘operate’ in the world. The world is not a boot camp. It is a rough place sometimes, and does call for support, sympathy, dependability, and other positive behavioral traits.
Most disturbed teens need structure, strong direction, treatment, and the result of natural consequences of behavior. So, if a juvenile is really struggling with behavior, emotions, and school, they need something that is more refined and approachable, then a harsh drill sergeant in his or her face. These programs normally highlight obedience and physical taming and were developed as a rigorous substitute to longer terms of detention in juvenile correctional facilities. Several of these programs are followed by a period of probation or some type of aftercare. Boot camps are normally restricted to non-violent or first-time lawbreakers.
 

Are boot camps helpful?

Boot camps do not reduce recidivism.
Frequent studies of adult and juvenile boot camps have shown that graduates do no better in terms of recidivism than law breakers, who were imprisoned or, in some cases, than those sentenced to normal probation supervision. Indeed, some researchers have found that boot camp graduates are more prone to be re-arrested or are re-arrested more quickly than other criminals.
 

Boot camps may not be profitable
While some boot camps facilitate authorities to save money because youth serve shorter sentences, others have discovered that the additional costs of operating boot camps overshadow the profits. As, boot camps tend to be more labor intensive and more expensive to run.
 

Experts agree that a confrontational approach is not suitable.
Most correctional and military experts agree that a confrontational model, using devices of coercion and degradation, is counterproductive for most youth in the juvenile justice system. The use of this kind of model has led to alarming events of maltreatment. The harrying style and violent exchanges that typify the boot camp setting fail to mold the pro-social behavior and development of sympathy that these youth actually need to discover.
 

Constructive changes demonstrated while in the program may not last when a youth returns to his community. Many adult and juvenile offenders sentenced to boot camps report that the program is helpful to them and they feel more optimistic about their futures. It is uncertain whether these behavioral changes continue after youth leave the boot camp, or whether they are related to authentic changes in conduct once a youth returns to his community. Without important curative interest while in the program, as well as specific aftercare following release, boot camp programs have been constantly fruitless in "rehabilitating" juvenile or adult offenders.