Juvenile justice system is designed to ensure appropriate treatment for offenders who are not adult. Separate norms, procedures, laws, provisions, and institutions are provisioned for juvenile offenders in almost every civilized society of the world. There are different provisions for adolescent offenders and they should be treated in different and not like other criminals. Missouri model has been emerged as a very effective model to treat such offenders. This paper intends to discuss juvenile justice system, Missouri model of juvenile justice and other related aspects.
Thousands of teenagers are behind bars, facing very torturous conditions in different countries across the globe. These children should not be kept behind bars and they should be given opportunities to reform themselves. Usually children are not mature enough to understand positive or negative aspects of a crime and just execute an act without considering about its consequences. Such juvenile offenders should be given opportunities to improve their behavior and make their future bright instead of pushing them into darkness of transgressions.
This is neither in the interest of adolescent offender nor is in the interest of the society. Such provisions for juvenile offenders are made in almost every country and united nation also recognizes such provisions for juvenile offenders. Article 40.1 of United Nations Convention on Rights of the Child reads as
“States Parties recognize the right of every child alleged as, accused of, or recognized as having infringed the penal law to be treated in a manner consistent with the promotion of the child’s sense of dignity and worth, which reinforces the child’s respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of other and which takes into account the child’s age and the desirability of promoting the child’s reintegration and the child’s assuming a constructive role in society” (Detrick et al., 1992).
Terrence Barkley was arrested stealing cars when he was 16 and was sent to one of juvenile facilities of Missouri. Due to right atmosphere, guidance, training and appropriate counseling, Barkley started going to college. He became editor of student daily and captained soccer team. He got access for criminal justice course in university of central Missouri. Barkley was fortunate because he was neither sent behind bars in a crowded facility center nor was he kept under strict observation of guards. Barkley used to wear his favorite clothes and was given a good bed to sleep (Chen, 2009).
American juvenile facilities are often disparaged for abuses but Missouri has developed a very effective juvenile justice system. People also call it as Missouri miracle considering thousands of juveniles who got successfully transformed after attending Missouri juvenile facilities. Missouri model of juvenile system has created a presentable picture of juvenile justice system in the United States of America. Juvenile facilities of Missouri are small that caters approx 30 adolescents at a time. These juvenile facilities are located at different parts within the city and not in any segregated place.
In juvenile facilities of Missouri, comfortable beds are provided to youngsters and these facilities do not look like jails. Educated and well behaved staffs are always there to help youngsters. Very qualified teachers educate these youngsters. Staffs treat these youths with dignity, love and respect. Sports are provided to these inmates and all reading facility is available to them. Conventional correctional methods are not adopted to reform their behavior and a therapeutic approach is used to improve these youngsters. Such methods are found to be very effective in changing the behavior of these juvenile offenders.
Juveniles those display a good behavior are considered for early releases instead of keeping them for years or months. Juveniles, who do not show much interest in studies, are taught different other skills. Records show that fewer than eight percent youngsters of Missouri juvenile facility come again after their release. One third of all incomers successfully return to their respective communities with diplomas while more than fifty percent of all juveniles return to their schools in order to pursue further education.
Missouri model of juvenile justice has earned a good reputation across the United States of America. This model is recommended for other states and even the same is praised by courts. This model is very effective, and capable in preventing misuse of children abuse of any kind. Missouri model reforms juveniles and converts them into good human beings with a new approach that is not inhuman.
After having observed the above mentioned succinct view on the Missouri model of juvenile justice, it is good to say that Missouri model has been found very effective in serving purpose of juvenile justice system. America needs more facilities like Missouri model juvenile justice system in order to prevent abuse of juveniles who are trapped in net of crimes knowingly or unknowingly.
References
Chen, S. (2009, August 27). CNN.com/Crime. Retrieved November 22, 2013, from edition.cnn.com: http://edition.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/08/25/missouri.juvenile.offenders/
S. Detrick, J. E. Doek, and N. Cantwell. (1992). The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child: A Guide to the "Travaux Preparatoires". Boston: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers.
