| Research shows juvenile correctional facilities all over the United States are taking a tougher stance when it comes to juvenile offenders. However, the rehabilitating aspect is becoming minuet, while the rate of crimes being committed by juveniles and the juvenile recidivism rates are quickly rising. As reported by the Building Blocks for Youth (2000) organization, almost half of the states in America have juvenile systems that call for more punishment and less rehabilitation. The justification for a program such as this is shown in the ethnicity of the juveniles being detained or in majority of the cases, being transferred to the adult criminal system. Statistics clearly show African-Americans and Hispanics are over-represented within the jail system (DeFrances et al., 1997). However, little is being done to rehabilitate them in a culturally sensitive manner. This juvenile rehabilitation program is designed for the purpose of rehabilitating ethnic minority youths who are sentenced to at least a six-month period of incarceration. |
