The Juvenile Offenders Learning Tolerance, or JOLT, program was set up by the Los Angeles County District Attorney. It is aimed at young people who have been involved in hate crimes. The program consists of a broad training program for staff who work with children and young people in schools, a positive change program for juveniles who are found to have participated in hate crimes, and strict prosecution of teenagers who carry out severe hate crimes or do not finish the program. JOLT classes assist juvenile offenders in accepting “responsibility for their misconduct, recognize biases, and develop a plan to counteract negative stereotyping in their lives” (Hate Crimes).
This program appears to have addressed most relevant aspects concerning the problem of hate crime committed by young people. Firstly, the adults who are influential to children and young people are educated in how to deal with the issue. This in imperative in addressing the problem in a long term fashion. In order to make changes to society, it is vital thatr education is started right at the beginning, even for very young children. Secondly, young people who have been involved in hate crimes are invited to participate in a program to help educate them. This is a forward thinking and positive initiative, as it gives young offenders the chance to change their perspective, and their life. Finally, if a juvenile offender has committed a serious hate crime or has failed to complete the program, they are given a heavy punishment. Again, this element of the program appears to be the final resort in the process, but it necessary in order to prevent future crimes of this nature and to discourage other young people from following the same fate.
In order to enhance the JOLT program, I would consider mediation between offenders and victims. If the victim of the crime did not wish to attend mediation, then I would organise for a victim of another hate crime to be present at the mediation with the offender. Mediation between offender and victim could have a dramatic impact on the conscience of the offender. Moreover, hearing the victim speak about how the crime made them feel may help to change the offender’s perspective.
Additionally, I would suggest therapy for the young offender and their family. Often young people are more likely to commit crime if their home life is unstable or unhappy. Family therapy may be successful not only in preventing the young person committing crimes in the future, but also in establishing the root cause of their behaviour.
References
Hate Crimes. National Criminal Justice Reference Service. Retrieved from
http://www.ncjrs.gov/html/bja/annualreport2001/bjaar4.html
