Sponsored by Association of Paroling Authorities International

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Sponsored by Association of Paroling Authorities
International

• Youthful Offenders
• Reentry and Supervision Issues and Differences

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Presenter

• Bill Sturgeon, Director
• Center for Rural Preparedness and Emergency
  Services
• Southern Vermont College
• Bennington, Vermont
• and
• Board Member of the Correctional Security Network

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Key Words

• Unique
• Challenging
• Gender specific
• Age specific (As much as possible)
• Paradigm shift
• Structure
• Measured response to infractions
• Valid information

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Here is what we are going to talk about

• Youthful Offenders Who are they?
• What are some of the characteristics of each of
  the three stages of adolescent development
• Associate the characteristics with parole
  supervision expectations

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• The ability to adapt programs, supervision
  techniques and methods
• (shift paradigms)
• Understand different gender issues of Youthful
  Offenders
• Determine if disciplinary actions are to a.
  correct the behavior
• b. punish the client
• c. both

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Youthful Offender

• What is a youthful offender
• For the purpose of this audio conference, a
  youthful offender is a person (charged with an
  adult criminal offense) who is under the age of
  majority in any state or country.

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Three Stages of Adolescence

• Early Adolescence 11-14 years of age
• Middle Adolescence 15 18 years of age
• Late Adolescence 19 -21 years of age
• (These ages are not set in stone they are
  merely guidelines.)

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What Makes Youthful Offenders Different from
Adult Populations

• They lack maturity
• They act before comprehending the consequences of
  their behavior Im sorry.
• They have numerous mental health, dental, and
  physical health problems
• Most have experienced some type of abuse

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What Makes Youthful Offenders Different from
Adult Populations

• YOs need to have structure in their lives
  (Structure that can be verified and that serves a
  purpose). Structure must be built into the parole
  agreement, contract, etc.
• Behavior and Performance should be an integral
  part of every YOs supervision plan.
• - Too often we (the system) have only
• taken into account the BEHAVIOR
• aspect of an offenders parole.

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What Makes Youthful Offenders Different from
Adult Populations

• - The smart offenders know how to
• manipulate the system and the
• behavior element.
• - Performance is more difficult to feign.
• A person is either doing it or not

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What Makes Youthful Offenders Different from
Adult Populations

• - Examples of performance can be
• Performance in school
• Performance at group / individual
• counseling sessions
• Performance at pre-release
• assignments
• Attendance at required meetings

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Setting Parameters for Performance Measures

• Must be specific and measurable
• Must be realistic
• Best if mutually agreed upon but not a
  prerequisite (Remember structure)
• Timeframes (Crucial)
• Adjust as needed (dont over react)
• Look for small successes to build upon

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Setting Parameters for Performance Measures

• Reward successful performance no matter how
  small
• Be prepared for slips and falls and to adjust
  parameters accordingly
• - Be especially cautious when dealing
• with technical violations that involve
• Time
• Transportation
• Child care

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Anecdotal / AsidesWhat We Have Learned

• Some youthful offenders will self-destruct
• Some youthful offenders would rather remain in
  prison and/or go back to prison
• Age is not a significant indicator of anything
  other than how old a person is

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Anecdotal EvidenceWhat We Have Learned

• Its difficult for YOs to be successful because
  of external influences
• - Drugs
• - Gangs
• - Terrorist Groups
• - Prostitution (female / male)
• - Homelessness
• - Untreated Mental Health Issues

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Special Help

• Unlike adult offenders, YOs may need special help
  in the following areas
• - Getting back into school
• - Getting into affordable housing
• - Childcare
• - Mental health (age specific) counseling
• - Finding the correct social service
• agency for their particular problem

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Board Specific

• At hearings dont look for a polished
• appearance.
• Dont look for sophisticated and smooth answers
  to questions.
• Try to get by the external veneer many of the YOs
  present with at first.
• Develop new YO parole plans
• that are specifically geared to supervision
• issues associated with YOs

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Board Specific

• Initiate research projects dealing with youthful
  offenders What works
• Develop specialized training for agents who will
  be supervising YOs
• Work with Governmental entities to develop new
  parole guidelines for youthful offenders to
  meet their unique needs

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Looking into the Crystal Ball

• There appears to be an increase in youthful
  violent crime so there very well could be a
  resurgence of youthful offenders.
• Female juvenile crime is the fastest growing
  demographic a major paradigm shift

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Looking into the Crystal Ball

• Age and gender specific parole plans
• Agent burnout
• Frustration
• More violent offenders and offenses

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Summary

• YOs experience significant issues making the
  transition from prison to civilian life and will
  need specially trained agents to supervise them.
• YOs violence should not be underestimated
• Many YOs can make it given the right
  opportunities and supervision