What are the purposes and roles of probation, institutionalization, and aftercare in the juvenile correctional process?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Probation is the most commonly used formal sentence for juvenile offenders and many states require that a youth fail on probation before being sent to an institution. Probation involves placing the child under the supervision of the juvenile probation department for the purpose of community treatment. They may be required to follow special rules such as maintaining a curfew or attending substance abuse meetings. Juvenile probation is an important component of the juvenile justice system. Institutionalization is the most severe statutory disposition available and may result in the juvenile being sent to a state training school or private residential treatment facility. These are usually minimum-security facilities with a small population and an emphasis on treatment and education. To better handle violent juvenile offenders, some states have created separate or intermediate juvenile systems where juveniles from 14-17 years old and charged with certain violent felonies are treated as adults and sentenced to new intermediate prisons. Today about 60,000 juveniles are being held in either privately run or publicly managed residential correctional facilities. Aftercare marks the final stage of the formal juvenile justice process. Its purpose is to help youths make the transition from residential or institutional settings back into the community. Most juvenile aftercare involves parole. A parole officer provides the juvenile with counseling, school referral, vocational training, and other services. Those who violate parole may have their parole revoked and be returned to an institution.