The Family, Community,
& Juvenile Justice System
Youth being involved in the Juvenile Justice process puts stress not only on the youth, but the family as well. Youth being arrested at such a young age usually indicate that there are problems at home. The focus should be on both the youth and his/her family.
(Department of Juvenile Services, n.d)
How Can Parents Be Held Responsible?
Since juveniles are underage and legal custody of parents, the parent(s) can potentially be held responsible. Parental responsibility is the belief that if children misbehave or break the law, it is the parent’s fault for not teaching and enforcing proper behavior and values.
This can lead to parents being responsible for the following:
- Take parenting classes
- Engage in family therapy and community service
- Pay fines or restitution
- Suspension of driver’s licenses
- Eviction from public housing
- Imprisonment
Parents may also:
- Need to take a various amount days off of work for mandated court hearings, therapy or parenting classes
- Not have enough time for intimate relationships, friends or other family members
- Not have time for leisure activities
(Brown, 2004; Lucero, Barrett, & Jensen, 2015; Warner & Cannon, 2004)
What Deters Families from Involvement in the Justice Process?
Allowing families to become involved in the justice process can grow partnerships between youths, their families, and the department. It can also increase the likelihood that families and youths will follow through with court-mandated service plans. Some may see this as a good thing, but other family members may see this as a waste of time.
While parents and/or guardians may want to be fully involved and support their child in the juvenile justice process, there are factors that can deter them. Using the ABC-X model from Family Stress Theory to analyze the impacts on the family going through the Juvenile Justice System can show that the resources provided and the perception of stress can determine whether the family actively involves themselves in the justice process.
If the youth is going through the Juvenile Justice System (the stressor event) and the family does not have any useful resources (B), they may see this event as a crisis (C- perception). Research has shown that families often lack the economic and social supports necessary to meet the needs of their children and to fully participate in existing activities offered by the system. If not provided the appropriate resources and knowledge, stressors may keep piling up causing the family member(s) to become uninvolved in the process due to lack of hope.
(Arya, 2013; Rosino, 2016)
Click the video below to hear parents / guardians thoughts, feelings, and advice for other parents going through the Juvenile Justice Process alongside their youth. The video will also recap the juvenile process to reiterate what you have already learned.
Community Dynamics vs.
The Juvenile Justice System
In addition to families, communities play a significant role in the development of youths. While it's much harder to address the needs of a large group of people and take proactive measures, it is also important to recognize how communities and their actions affect one another on an individual basis.
In What Ways Can Communities Be Responsible?
When looking at juvenile delinquency and trying to find a means of diminishing it, it first needs to be understood that almost every consequence occurs as a result of a domino effect, meaning that juveniles' decisions are affected by their upbringing, and their upbringing can be affected by the community in which the caretaker lived in or grew up in.
Another term for the domino effect is the broken windows theory, which proposes that public disorder, such as 'dangerous' or unkempt communities, can create downward spirals that may impact the behaviors and attitudes of youths living in the environment. Communities can be, if not more, influential on youths' development compared to a youth's family — this may be a result of herd mentality, or the following of the majority, or simple peer-pressure.
Communities also provide opportunities for youths to flourish, and if a community is lacking in recreational facilities, positive peer play, accessible playgrounds and courts, and adequate education, then it is likely than that youth will not be provided with healthy means of physical and mental stimulation, which can be vital for one's development.
(Cohen et al., 2000; McKenzie et al., 2013; Voisin & Kim, 2018)