Table of ContentsJuvenile Delinquency in the Criminal Justice SystemIntroductionBackground to the IssueRecommendationsSummaryJuvenile Delinquency in the Criminal Justice SystemIntroductionThe United States has one of the best justice systems criminal law in the world, but they are not immune to contemporary problems. The problem addressed in this article is the high rate of juvenile delinquency. Juvenile delinquency refers to an individual's involvement in a crime before they reach the age of majority. Common crimes include tampering with firearms, theft, instigation or even murder. Although juveniles are well protected by law, the way they are treated by affiliated institutions, for example, the police, courts, prisons, and the parole office, presents jargon. Finding the best way to develop useful individuals from minor criminals is a difficult task that requires careful investigation and conversation to arrive at evidence-based recommendations. Say no to plagiarism. Get a Custom Essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get an Original EssayIn a demographic report released by the U.S. Department of Commerce in 2006, approximately 70 million children are aged 18 and under, which represents 25 percent of the American population as a whole. This number is expected to increase by 10 million in 2020. The population of children provides a clear picture of the issues affecting them, particularly those at risk of falling into the juvenile justice system. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has contributed to this problem by reporting that 1.5 million young people under the age of 18 are placed behind bars for minor and major crimes. Worse still, more than 700,000 young people are part of different street gangs. Research indicates that more of them are likely to engage in other risky behaviors such as driving while intoxicated, carrying weapons, attempting suicide and that the greatest number have or still has sexual intercourse. Background of the problem Whenever a minor is involved in a criminal act, the litigious process of justice begins immediately. The management of such an individual since his arrest has raised concerns among the guardians of the law, the judiciary and children's rights activists. The child is considered innocent until a court convicts or acquits him or her. The entire trial faces endless controversy. Similarly, children's correctional facilities have been criticized because some children are said to have left the system in worse condition than they initially were. In juvenile delinquency, there are several issues, according to the Juvenile Offenders and Victims Report by Sickmund & Puzzanchera (2014), that require serious discussion; police discretion, custody status, trial and correction. Previous discussions used the term “child delinquent” instead of criminal. Children can no longer be “sentenced”, rather they must be subject to a “decision” and the aim of juvenile corrections systems is not necessarily to punish, but rather to rehabilitate and make restitution. Police discretion; When a court officer is confronted with a juvenile offender, he or she has the responsibility to decide whether to arrest the offender or let him go with a warning. Before arrest, the officer may decide to help the offender, because most of them commit crimes due to lack of parental control and care. Making this decision is entirely up to the agent on site. ManyProblems affecting youth are never resolved until the child is detained or incarcerated. Custody status; if and after the arrest of the child, the state of the police cells constitutes another obstacle, knowing that the person arrested is a minor. Finding a juvenile detention center suitable for a minor is almost impossible. This in turn raises concerns among children's rights activists. Harsh conditions and overcrowding in these facilities are a major concern. The minor could even be the victim of many other crimes in order to adapt to these crimes. Bad conditions in the prison cells. Some minors are said to have attempted suicide and suffered from psychiatric problems. Every year, juvenile offenders pass through detention centers awaiting legal action. It is even reported that young people who have been through the system are more likely to use drugs than those who have never been there. Trial; a minor suspected of a crime has several rights just like an adult. The child has the right to a court-appointed lawyer, private or public, to warning, to confrontation and cross-examination of witnesses, and to the freedom not to become involved. Before 1967, children were considered not to need these rights and the court had the right to make decisions in the best interests of the children without regard to these rights.Correction; The incarceration of the child after trial once found guilty raises the question of the type of correction, the time served and the possibilities of parole. The overall outcome after correction becomes a matter of concern as they are expected to emerge from these correctional facilities as people capable of subsequently leading meaningful and respectful lives. It appears that juveniles who attend these establishments return to the community as serious criminals after serving their sentences. The question of the type of reforms in institutions is a controversial issue that requires much deliberation. Conditions in the facilities can also lead to a high rate of suicidal juveniles and children suffering from psychological disorders. Cases of such eventualities have been reported in the recent past and are still as prevalent as before. We must therefore find a solution and do it as quickly as possible. Recommendations The police officer may decide to involve social services in order to help the child. The state should also step in and claim to control and supervise juveniles before they commit more serious crimes. Causes of criminal behavior include poverty, drugs, neglect and abuse, gang involvement, and truancy. Before the act occurs, a police officer may take it upon themselves to find the cause of the criminal act to try to help the child. Understanding the cause can go a long way in preventing delinquency and establishing responsibility for the child. McCluskey and JD (2014) agree that police discretion is important when it comes to providing assistance to the public, which in this case includes juveniles. As society evolves every day, higher crime rates are being reported and therefore a solution must be found quickly. The first step is to involve the officer's discretion when making an arrest. To resolve or perhaps help the state of detention, we must begin before the minors even arrive there. Crime prevention must first be addressed to reduce the number of children arrested and detained in these detention centers. Vries et al. (2015) concurred with the suggestion that the state must develop alternatives to detaining these juveniles.The concept of minimizing the use of secure detention centers can then be implemented. This does not mean eliminating these facilities altogether, however, but rather finding alternatives for minors who do not necessarily need detention and do not pose a danger to themselves or the community at large. A good example is the “approved schools” used in Kenya for minors who do not need to be detained. It is a sort of reform school for juvenile delinquents. At present, the issue of the child's trial is approached cautiously in order to avoid abusing some of the rights of minors. When it comes to children, the system is sometimes discriminated against because it views children as less partisan and therefore decisions are made without consideration of the child and without consultation. The flow of cases through the system should be reformed to speed up the process, reduce the length of stay in custody and ensure timely and appropriate interventions, as suggested by Bateman, T. & Hazel (2014). To achieve this, the court must demonstrate leadership and collaborate with the child's probation, prosecution and defense team. The entire system must advocate for the child and act in their best interest rather than focusing on the number of successful cases on their dockets. The court can show leadership by requiring the prosecutor to send plea offers simultaneously to the public defenders. This can speed up the child's trial process. Youth awaiting placement and probation violators should also not spend too much time in detention centers. The prosecution and defense should agree on the most expeditious way to handle such proceedings. The court should also intervene in the case of juvenile offenders, as they have sole responsibility for determining detention. Cases such as truancy, alcohol possession, vandalism, shoplifting and curfew violations should not result in detention in secure facilities, but rather alternatives such as house arrest, increased surveillance, electronic monitoring and placement should be considered (Payne-James, Beynon & Vieira, 2017). Often, children's cases have become a problem because the parties involved do not view the minors being prosecuted as equals. Therefore, trial reform must come from the court which is supreme in this process and trickle down to the parties involved. A structure should also be established to evaluate and develop a plan to change policies that govern the correction of juveniles. The system must also be evaluated and a diagnosis of system problems must be provided. Sankofa et. al (2017) insisted that the impact of the type of reforms proposed in correctional facilities should also be highlighted. Improving the conditions of detention of minors is essential. A routine inspection by professionals who will apply all protocols and standards is therefore recommended. Without persistence in these routines, conditions in correctional facilities continue to deteriorate. Emphasis should be placed on systems that help correct the juvenile rather than punish him. Prison establishments should have schools which provide minors with continuity in their lives outside the establishment. The risk of these minors entering the community without some form of routine compromises their chances of integrating after their release and they are therefore once again vulnerable to the world of crime. The American Correctional Association has developed principles for.