| The number of juveniles involved in unlawful and criminal activities has increased dramatically over the past few years, and that trend is expected to continue. The juvenile justice system has been inundated with juvenile offenders, and the burden of providing effective treatment for these juveniles and protecting the public interest has diminished the system's ability to develop effective prevention programs for delinquent youth. This study examines prevention and treatment programs and services provided by the juvenile justice system and reports on the effectiveness of the services from the perspective of the juveniles who are receiving the services. Juveniles who have been incarcerated in juvenile correctional facilities are the participants in this study because it is deemed that they have received the most services offered by the juvenile justice system and are best qualified for reporting of their effectiveness. Sixteen juveniles are interviewed in detail and reveal their experiences with the juvenile justice system, the factors which precipitated their delinquency, and their involvement with parents, peers, and other environmental factors which may have affected their delinquency and their perception of the effectiveness of services. |
