NEWSPAPER MONITORING

Introduction

            It is undeniable the youth in contemporary society are in crisis as they are facing a lot of difficulties and conflicts.  This crisis is of great scope and magnitude. The crisis of this generation of youth includes, too, younger children.  The character and detail of this crisis is social and derives its characteristics from two basis properties: a high risk environment and negative justice system. One of the problems encountered by the youth today, especially those who are considered as young offenders is about the context of custody.  In this manner, the authorities, specifically the justice system and other concern citizens are trying to provide a comprehensive system to protect the youth and to prevent youth problems.

Youth crime commonly accompanies social disorder. A survey in Britain of thirteen thousand young teenagers revealed that more than half had committed at least one crime. Since many young people are engaged in delinquencies, criminal behavior and wrongdoings, the issue of young offenders’ custody is in the limelight.  In addition, justice system for youth is also in the list of the issue (Davis, 1999).

Justice has been defined by philosophers as a state of balance, fairness, equity, and equality. But justice in the United States often has been identified with punishment; humiliation and degradation directed against the poor and weak. Social justice, a term with greater scope, entails the broadest spectrum of justice, including social, political, economic, educational, and moral considerations. Family justice, legal justice, restorative justice, medical justice, welfare justice, economic justice, political justice–these are significant and relevant aspects of social justice. In this larger sense of justice, we refer to the mutual obligation and responsibility we have for one another, inasmuch as we share a single planet, and in a spiritual sense, are one people.

The goal of this paper is to provide an analysis about two news articles about young offenders’ custody and the justice system. The articles that will be given emphasis are: “Promoting good behaviour for young people in custody” and “NEWS RELEASE: Youth Justice Board welcomes Carlile Report.”

 

Brief Overview of the Articles

Promoting good behaviour for young people in custody

            The first article which is entitled “Promoting good behaviour for young people in custody” is about the plans that which was introduced by the authority about the ways on managing the behavior of some of the most challenging young people under the custody of the security within UK. Herein, the article focuses on the code of practice which is “Managing the Behaviour of Children and Young People Held in the Secure Estate.” The article highlights the outline of the strategies that should be implemented to ensure the success of such code of practice as well as the ten principles on managing the behavior of 2, 800 troubled youth in custody. In addition, this code of practice also imposes a reward system for those young people who have shown positive behaviour.

            Accordingly, the news article also emphasise that challenging behavior can be managed effectively if authorities would be able to follow the code which has been implemented.

 

NEWS RELEASE: Youth Justice Board welcomes Carlile Report

            The second article to be analysed in this paper is about the inquiry of Lord Carlile about the secure estate for youth. The article highlights that this inquiry is a helpful contribution on the ongoing debate in the challenging responsibility of ensuring the young people are kept safe while they are in custody. This article adheres to the notion that young offenders must be able to have a well managed custody and security.  This article also highlights the achievement of the said inquiry.  The achievements include the implementation of a strategy for the secure estate, which will provide dedicated and child-focuses units for young people who are sentenced to custody, a main independent review of physical restraint and the specification of advocacy services in order for the young people in custody to voice out their concerns and perceptions. In addition, the achievement also include the establishment of Juvenile Awareness Staff Programme (JASP), this aims to trains all staff in Young Offender Institutions to ensure child protection and as well as to tackle safeguarding issues and concerns.

 

Analysis: Strengths and Weaknesses of Both Articles

            The state’s role as protector collided with its chief role as social control agent. As a result, many youthful miscreants have been removed from their homes and communities and placed in either adult jails or in juvenile facilities, or any place to have the custody of the young offenders where they are purportedly free from negative influences and the commission of further delinquent or criminal activity. Regardless of the nature of the wrongdoing–violence, property crimes, disorderly conduct, status offenses (e.g., truancy), and even neglected and abused youngsters-all were subject to uniform handling with high rates of detention and incarceration. In this manner, the key issue is whether those who handle the custody capable of handling or managing the challenging behavior of the young offenders.

Both of the articles had been able to highlight one of the major issues in young people custody and that is the measures imposed to manage challenging behavior of youth custody and the establishment of some other measures to ensures that children or young people who had been remanded or sentenced to custody are able to manage effectively and that all their needs for security are given priority.

            As noted, one of the difficulties that an authority that handled young offenders with antisocial behavior and conduct disorder is maintaining effective treatment protocols and service delivery. These young people are characterised by their transgressive behaviour, violation of social rules and lack of moral discipline. This is important to hold in mind when considering what is expected of the young people under custody and security. In this manner, running a treatment programme and management of the challenging behaviour of these young offenders requires a considerable amount of organisation: meetings and appointments need to be scheduled and assessment forms sent out and collected. There will be calls to youth justice social workers, with teachers and with parents as well as with the young people themselves. A great risk to the therapeutic enterprise can occur if the energies of the practitioners and support staff become absorbed in the routine administration of the programme.

            In this regard, such needs and requirement had been given importance in the code of practice set by the authorities. The first article has given some insightful details about the Code of practice on managing the challenging behavior of he young offenders under custody while the second article provide details on how Calile’s inquiry had helped in enhancement of the system of treating and securing young offenders.

            It can be said that both the articles had shown how the authorities in UK had focused on reforming their justice system when it comes to the young offenders. Both of the articles had also cited the importance of having a more effective and proficient social workers who will handle or manage young offenders behavior.  Further, the news article chosen can be said as relevant to each other since it highlights the needs for having a more effective justice system for the young offenders under the custody and security of Young Offenders Institution across the country.

            This article enables the reader to become aware of the current justice system for young offenders and the present measures imposed by the authorities to enhance the justice system for the youth. Moreover, both articles had given enough information on the focus of the new provision which is the Code of Practice: Managing the Behaviour of Children and Young People Held in the Secure Estate.

            The above discussion provides the strengths of both articles, the only weakness that these articles have is that it does not have introduction to let the reader have an idea of the topic. Although it is comprehensive enough, having an introduction will make it more formal and understandable.

 

Conclusion

            Having a more effective measure on handling youth or children who have misconducts and anti-social behaviour has been one of the most important aspect in youth or juvenile justice system.  Most of the young offenders today are being sentenced to custody or security of Young Offenders Institution to make sure that they will be protected from social criticisms and to ensure that their behavior will somehow change to become a more productive member of the society.  It is noted that the behaviour of most of the young offenders are challenging and needs an intense measure of management to be used by social workers.  In this manner, many countries, like UK tries its best to provide an effective justice system and strategy.

            It is concluded that the article highlights the information of the code of practice implemented by UK authorities to handle or manage behavior of young offenders.  Both articles had given the advantages of the said practice and provide details of such practice to be understood by the reader especially those social workers in the Young Offenders Institution.

 

Reference

Davis, NJ 1999, Youth Crisis: Growing Up in the High-Risk Society. Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers.

 

News Articles

Promoting good behaviour for young people in custody

9 February 2006 (http://www.youth-justice-board.gov.uk/PractitionersPortal/News/NewsArchive/PromotingGoodBehaviourinCustody.htm)

New plans were introduced this week to manage the behaviour of some of the most challenging and troubled young people held in secure establishments, across the country.

The Code of Practice, Managing the Behaviour of Children and Young People Held in the Secure Estate, outlines strategies which emphasise:

• expectation of positive behaviour within an environment of mutual respect


• a child-centred culture


• high-quality relationships between young people and staff.

The guidance provides advice on how to deal in a positive way with some of the 2,800 troubled young people presently held in custody. There is strong emphasis on the importance of encouraging and rewarding positive behaviour, and that good behaviour must be promoted as the norm.

It sets out the following ten principles:

• management responsibilities


• acceptable behaviour statements


• a coherent and fair system of rewards and sanctions


• a planned approach to managing individual behaviour


• processes for consulting with children and young people


• an independent advocacy service


• complaints service


• processes for diversion, de-escalation and defusion


• system for removal from normal location


• system for restrictive physical intervention.

Embedded within the guidance is also the principle that restorative justice is an effective approach to behaviour management – to repair harm and resolve underlying causes to difficult behaviour. Work has already started, with all establishments starting a self-assessment against the Code of Practice. Action plans will be drawn up and agreed with each establishment.

Professor Rod Morgan, Chair of the YJB, said “this Code is a priority for all working in the secure estate. We believe that challenging behaviour can be managed in a positive way and that interventions must remain a last resort. The YJB will continue to review and monitor performance to ensure progress is achieved.”

 

NEWS RELEASE: Youth Justice Board welcomes Carlile Report

17 February 2006 (http://www.youth-justice-board.gov.uk/PractitionersPortal/News/NewsArchive/Carlilereportwelcomed.htm)

Lord Carlile’s inquiry into the secure estate for children and young people, published today by the Howard League for Penal Reform, has been welcomed by the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales (YJB).

“This is a helpful contribution to the debate in the challenging task of ensuring that children and young people are kept safe, while in custody, and that they are held to account for their offending behaviour,” said YJB Chairman, Professor Rod Morgan. “Over the past few months, we have made significant improvements in these areas and I am delighted that much of what this report calls for is already in place.”

Recent achievements include:

• the launch of a strategy for the secure estate, which will deliver dedicated, child-focused units for young people remanded or sentenced to custody


• a major independent review of physical restraint


• the provision of advocacy services so that youngsters in custody can voice their views and concerns


• JASP (Juvenile Awareness Staff Programme) training for all staff in Young Offender Institutions which includes child protection and safeguarding issues


• an investment of £10 million, over three years, in substance misuse services for young people in custody


• £2 million to fund social workers in Young Offender Institutions.

Additionally, the YJB last week launched a code of practice for managing the behaviour of children and young people in the secure estate which:

• set out ten principles for good practice


• looks at how good behaviour can be rewarded


• emphasises the importance of respect between children and staff.

 

All establishments are now carrying out self-assessment against the code with action plans due to be drawn up next month.

“Many young people in custody come from chaotic and difficult family backgrounds, suffer from severe behavioural disorders, or have been victims of abuse.  Looking after them is no easy task,” said Morgan.  “While we still face challenges in making custody as safe and productive as it can be, we have already made significant progress.”

The YJB co-operated with and provided information to support the Inquiry, and will closely consider Lord Carlile’s recommendations before formally responding.

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