Juvenile Offenders: Restorative Justice and Model Programs (Term Paper Sample)

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Section 1: Youths Drug Use
In many societies worldwide, the youths have identified an easy way of satisfying and coping with life conditions through involvement in substance abuse. Substance abuse has become a common factor; nearly 70% of the youth take alcohol before graduating from high school ("Substance Use and Abuse in Adolescents", 2020). The usage of alcohol and other drugs among the youths has been triggered by peer pressure, family, and societal influence. Addiction is of great concern as many youths engage in activities that threaten their lives through violence and impulsive sexual behavior (Sharp et al., 2019). From the national survey, the number of youths reported having used drugs has increased steadily. The drugs used can result in short-term and long-term consequences among the youths. The most used substances include marijuana, tobacco and its products, and alcohol.
Alcohol
Statistics show that alcohol is the most used substance among youths. It is noted that approximately 70% of the youths in 12th grade have used alcohol ("Substance Use and Abuse in Adolescents", 2020). More than 90% of the youths consume alcohol in a binge where the consumption is approximated to be within the range of 1 and 2 hours ("Substance Use and Abuse in Adolescents", 2020). Most of the youths drink alcohol using bottles which makes them consume a large portion of the alcohol content compared to the adults. This makes them vulnerable to accidents, unprotected sex, and injuries (Liddell & Burnette, 2017). As efforts to discourage drinking among the youths have increased, society has portrayed that drinking is fashionable and acceptable. The youths who drink are perceived as superior compared to those who do not drink. Families have also played a significant role in enhancing the drinking habits among the youths as the youths view the habit as acceptable in their home setup. There are instances where adolescents have developed alcohol disorders making it difficult to quit the habit.
Tobacco
Tobacco usage among the youths has considerably declined since the 1990s. The survey data from National Institute on Drug Abuse shows that 5.7% of the youths in 12th grade consume tobacco. This is a decrement compared to 2018, which was 7.6% and 28.3% in 1991 ("Substance Use and Abuse in Adolescents", 2020). The proportion of 12th-grade youths who smoke daily is approximately 2% ("Substance Use and Abuse in Adolescents", 2020). The survey study also portrayed that most people who smoke in adulthood began their smoking habits in high school. However, despite reducing smoking habits among the youths, many youths have been affected and require intervention. Factors contributing to the increased smoking habits among the youths include parents who smoke, celebrities, and peer pressure (Lardier et al., 2018). Tobacco usage has negative impacts such as poor problem-solving ability, poor school performance, exposure to risky behavior, and poor self-esteem.
Electronic Cigars
Electronic cigars have dramatically increased among the youths in high school. Usage of these products has significantly increased since 2013, with an increase of about 21% ("Substance Use and Abuse in Adolescents", 2020). Electronic cigar makes use of nicotine liquid that is converted into vapor through heating. The liquid has active nicotine compounds such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). This product has become a popular product among the youth, and it is estimated that its usage will keep increasing. Nicotine products lead to vital lung injuries, which may lead to death.
Marijuana
From the NIH survey conducted in 2019, usage of marijuana among high school students is approximately 22.3%. This was an increment compared to the 20.6 % of active users in 2009 ("Substance Use and Abuse in Adolescents", 2020). Approximately 43.7% of the students have reported using marijuana more than once in their high school period ("Substance Use and Abuse in Adolescents", 2020). Marijuana usage has negative effects such as respiratory infections and mental health problems.
Section II – Restorative Justice / Model Programs
Restorative Justice
The program model uses communication and technique to enable the crime convict to understand the impact of crime, thereby taking responsibility. This provides an opportunity to all the parties, such as the community, offenders, and victims of the crime, on the needs and impacts of the crime ("Literature Review", 2021). The process uses dialogues, circles, and conferences guided by a skilled individual with various forms depending on the situations and parties involved. The philosophy of the restorative justice system is based on understanding the crime as a violation of relationships and individuals. It focuses on maintaining inclusivity, empathy, and respect when delivering the program ("Literature Review", 2021). The program is crucial in providing accountability, engagement, and creation of healing opportunities, rehabilitation, and compensation.
The program enables the parties involved to respond to the crime as they are central to the criminal justice process. The legal section and the government serve the role of being facilitators of the program. This program is crucial in handling physical injuries and relational, mental, and social injuries. Whenever one party is not interested in the program's involvement, various approaches are taken to ensure the beneficial results of fixing the harm ("Literature Review", 2021). Accountability is enhanced through various methods such as reparative sentences, community service, and restitution. Offender and victim integration is addressed through spiritual, material, and emotional support/assistance. Restorative justice differs from the traditional criminal justice forum in several ways. Firstly, it measures the repair of the harm and prevention rather than the