Juvenile Crime Government Should Do More Essay

Juvenile Crime: Government Should Do More Essay, Research Paper

Government Should Establish Program To Reduce Juvenile Crime

Juvenile crime is increasing rapidly and is a problem that plagues

America. The murder rate by 18 year olds has increased 467% since 1965! The

current policy maintained for the last number of decades is clearly not

effective. An increase of 207% in the number of murder cases committed by 15

year olds from 1985 to 1993 is not a sign that current policy is effective.

Changes must be made. The best way to address the problem is through government

funded preventative programs. The affirmative intends to prove, and stands

resolved, that the federal government should establish a program to

substantially reduce juvenile crime.

This, by definition, means that the federal government would benefit the

country by taking action and making government programs that will decrease the

number of crimes committed by minors. Contention I: The status quo is only

harming the people of the united states by remaining. Subpoint A: It has become

clear that the state and local governments have failed in correcting the

nation wide epidemic of juvenile crime, since juvenile crime rates are rising so

rapidly. Subpoint 1:An example of an ineffective state plan is that many

states are attempting to incarcerate juveniles along with adults. Putting

juvenile offenders in with adults increases their chances offending again when

they are released by 65%. Subpoint 2: SHOCAP, a local crime reduction plan,

was shut down because it was ineffective. Subpoint B: Local plans are too

diverse and lack uniformity. Subpoint 1: A plan that can lift up the entire

country are far superior to those that can only effect small parts.. Iowa may

indeed have smaller problems than New York but Juvenile crime exists everywhere.

Subpoint 2:In the hands of the federal government, a more effective, tax worthy

and moral shaping plan can be spread throughout the entire united states and

benefit the country as a whole. Utilizing this information from the faults and

few successes of the states, will help correctly fund and perfect an active plan

which will indeed begin to substantially reduce juvenile crime, before it

happens…through the methods of prevention.

The plan that we the affirmative propose is one that institutes a

combination of different preventative programs which the federal government will

entirely set up, fund, and work with these community efforts.

Plank I: This preventative program will be funded through the

organization of juvenile justice and delinquency prevention program, a federal

agency which consists of 17 separate groups involved in delinquency prevention.

They are equipped with 144 million dollars with which they can assist the

communities to create these life saving programs. Money will come both from

them and federal government funding. The government pays money to the states to

use their own programs to diminish juvenile crime, but because this has proven

ineffective through the rising juvenile crime rates, this money can be better

used on federal programs. We must recognize how much this problem is hurting us,

and be prepared to pay taxes . But with the help of the organization of

juvenile justice, the taxes should be minimal.

Plank II: The OJJDP will encourage these preventative plans with and

through the federal government to the states. This organization will consist of

the current members, plus volunteers and paid officials who will work in

communities all over the U.S.

Plank III: Mandates

Mandate 1. Schools will teach choice exercises, discourage violence and

teach law and consequences to younger children in public elementary schools all

over the country. It is obvious from the crime rates that children are not

learning simple morals in their homes! Materials would be supplied through the

federal government. This method which will help the youth of tomorrow to think

about situations before impulsively acting on them.

Mandate 2. ?Street workers? will work with juveniles. Boston has had

wonderful success with street workers, volunteer conflict resolution officers.

Their job is to talk to groups of children and teens who hang out on city

streets. Supplying such a program to large cities all over the country would

prove beneficial to both the youths and people of the communities. Also, peer