Convictions and Pardons in Juvenile Justice System Essay

Convictions and Pardons in Juvenile Justice System - Essay Example It could also be enforced by a parole board to an offender after serving time in jail. This type of sanction is often given to individuals who have committed a crime but poses no serious threat to public safety (Alarid & Del Carmen, 2008). By engaging individuals to community corrections instead of serving time in prison, over-population problems in jails are answered, community service work is increased, and collection of fines and fees are increased because offenders are allowed to remain in their present jobs, thereby alleviating the budget constraints of the correctional department (Nieto, 1996). Several community-based programs are being implemented by the government. These services are designed for intervention and prevention of the specific problem of the offender. The judges evaluate the offender according to the offender’s behavior, previous records, and the risk to re-offend. The court then chooses the sanction specific for an individual following a uniform and structured judgment. Examples of these are sanctions and therapies for alcohol and drug abuse; mental health; sex offenders; domestic violence; cognitive restructuring; and anger management (Barton-Bellessa & Hanser, 2012). The goal of the structured sentencing is to match the offender with the appropriate penalties or prevention services. For example, juveniles who are school drop-outs or those who are members of youth gangs are â€Å"at risk† of committing criminal cases in the future are being required to go under prevention programs such as midnight basketball leagues, big brother programs, special education, and other activities. Another type of program is the intervention program, which usually benefits first-time offenders. They are required to attend early intervention services to reduce the chances of re-offending.