Alternatives to Incarceration Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Alternatives to Incarceration - Assignment Example Moreover, many a time juvenile offenders get involved in violent crimes in prison facilities that curtail their capacity and potential for rehabilitation (Coyle, 2005). An alternative to incarceration pertains to any punishment that can be extended to a juvenile offender, rather than confining one to prison. Over the years the community based alternatives to juvenile incarceration have shown much promise. Community corrections happen to be one such alternative which allows the juvenile offenders to remain within the community while putting limits to their freedom and the opportunities accessible to them (Jacobson, 2005). While being in the community corrections the juvenile offenders could be extended the possibility of probation tied to varied strict and stringent requirements like reporting diligently and punctually to a probation officer, remaining confined to one’s home during specific parts of the day, staying off drugs and attending substance abuse and mental health associated programs. The community based facilities have evinced much promise going by the fact that only 8 percent of the juvenile offenders in Missouri show recidivism on ce they are admitted to the community based programs (Gottesman, 2011). Community service is one other viable option to incarcerating the juvenile offenders. Community service could also be made to be a viable condition to probation or it could be used as an alternative to paying fines (Jacobson, 2005). Since the first three years of introducing the community service alternatives, the state of Illinois has saved almost $18.7 million (Gottesman, 2011). Community service involves making the offender dedicate oneself to some sort of unpaid work or service for a nonprofit or community organization. Mental health courts and drug courts are other alternatives to juvenile incarceration. Such courts