Rehabilitating Offenders
Deviance behaviour by teenagers is viewed as a stage that is bound to pass as the teenagers mature. Formal deviance among teenagers is a matter of concern because adolescence is a crucial developmental stage. If delinquent teenagers are not adequately rehabilitated, their deviant behaviours develop to criminal activities. Restorative justice is most effective because it not only restores delinquent teenagers but also prepares teenagers to become useful and law-abiding citizens.
Identification of the problem behaviour
Most of Bill’s crimes are drug-related and, they are influenced by his upbringing. Bill’s mother was an indulgent parent while his father was a distant figure. Therefore, Bill did not have a firm upbringing. Whereas the mother did not see any wrong in Bill, the father was an absent figure who did not help with instilling discipline. Furthermore, Bill’s father now periodically attempts to enforce a strict discipline regime. Bill did not get a firm upbringing, and his absent father started enforcing discipline when Bill’s problem was already deep-rooted.
Another problem with Bill is drug abuse. Bill started using cannabis at the tender age of nine. Over the years, Bill has evolved from taking hallucinogens to amphetamines. Based on his drug addiction problem, it is evident that Bill steals from his family members to finance his drug usage. Although Bill expresses remorse, those close to him suggest that is not the case. Therefore, Bill had expressed remorse several times before but did not change.
Conceptualization of the problem
The attachment theory can explain the problem behaviour identified in the case of Bill. The assessment of Bill’s situation indicates that Bill had a problem with his upbringing. The attachment theory suggests that the way a child develops depend on his or her attachment to their primary caregiver. The attachment theory also indicates that lack of attachment in the early developmental stages of a child can lead to delinquency and increased aggression.
According to Hoeve et al. (2012), the delinquency will be low in families with strong affective ties, because, juveniles who are firmly attached to their parents are more likely to care about the expectations of their parents, which prevents delinquent impulses. In the case of Bill, the lack of attachment to his mother and father increases his delinquent behaviour.
Bill has zero attachment to his father. The distant relationship with his father has influenced Bill’s behaviour. Furthermore, Bill’s father periodically attempts to enforce a strict discipline regime. If Bill were close to his father during his childhood, the discipline measures would have worked. However, since Bill and his father never formed an attachment, Bill’s father cannot enforce practical disciplinary actions. As stated earlier, teenagers tend to control their delinquent impulses in fear of disappointing their parents. However, due to the lack of attachment between Bill and his father, Bill does not feel any responsibility to live up to the expectations of his father.
Bill’s mother did not lay a firm discipline foundation. The upbringing of Bill suggests that his mother was a delinquent parent who did not see any wrong in her son. In line with Miller (2010), indulgent parents prefer having a relationship with their children by providing directions and rules for their children. Delinquent parents are very lenient with their children, and they never punish wrongdoings. Children raised by indulgent parents develop long-term psychological effects. Although Bill is attached to his mother, the grounds of their relationship does not allow Bill’s mother to punish Bill.
The people close to Bill do not believe his remorse is genuine. Bill’s false guilt is as a result of his attachment to his mother. Although Bill continuously steals from his relatives, his mother continues to support him. Therefore, Bill had expressed remorse to his mother many times before and did not portray any behaviour change. Also, Bill has had community-based sentences with no signs of improvement. Thus, the people close to Bill have a reason to doubt Bill’s remorse.
In line with Hoeve et al. (2012), delinquent behaviour is inhibited during childhood and adolescence by bonds to the family and school. As a person grows up, they replace some childhood attachment ties with other significant and social relations. Although Bill had strained childhood attachment to his parents, it is possible to rehabilitate Bill’s behaviour by restructuring the parental affection as well as helping Bill to build other crucial social attachments. Besides, rehabilitating Bill’s drug problem would impact on his ability to form an attachment to his relatives as well as society.
Rehabilitation
Seeing that Bill’s problem is linked to his upbringing, punishing his behaviour solely would not help Bill reform. The restoration of Bill would involve his treating drug addiction, which would impact on his ability to form an attachment to his parents, relatives and community.
Proper drug treatment for prisoners can reduce both drug use and rates of re-offending (Enngist et al., 2014). While in prison, Bill should undergo a prison rehabilitation programme to curb his drug-addiction problem. Bill started using cannabis at age nine and by 15; he has evolved to using amphetamines. Therefore, Bill has a deep-rooted drug problem that needs rehabilitation. Untreated substance use offenders are more likely to relapse into drug use and criminal behaviour compared to treated offenders. Based on research, if Bill does not receive rehabilitation for his drug problem, he is more likely to relapse. According to Bill’s record, he has had several community-based sentences without changing. The community-based sentences were more focused on punishing Bill for his delinquent behaviour rather than rehabilitate and help Bill to change for the better.
Bill should undergo substance use Disorder treatment. The drug rehabilitation programs focus on helping inmates treat their substance use disorders, avoid relapse, and successfully reintegrate into society (Legislative Analyst’s Office, 2017). Bill is a young person with the zeal to end his drug addiction. With encouragement and a firm support system, Bill can overcome drug addiction and avoid relapse.
Bill presents an interview as an articulate, high achieving young man. While in prison, Bill should pursue his academic interests. Many juvenile prisons have high school diploma programmes. Attending school would keep Bill busy and focus on his future. Furthermore, excelling in academics while in prison would help Bill change his attitude. Most teenage delinquents with difficult childhoods develop low-self esteem. Boosting the self-esteem of teenagers can build their confidence and lower delinquency. Therefore, supporting and encouraging Bill to pursue academics while in prison would not only keep him occupied but boost his confidence.
Bill should attend therapy sessions with his parents. In line with the attachment theory, the development of a child depends on the attachment with their primary caregiver. However, as a child grows up, they can replace their childhood attachment with more critical social ties. In line with Hermann (2017), restorative justice ensures that the offenders and the victims meet face-to-face and come to an understanding. By ensuring Bill and his parents attend therapy together, his mother can see the consequence of her delinquency and his father can understand the implications of his absence. Bill and his family can forge new bonds, which will prevent Bill from acting on his delinquent impulses.
Measuring Outcomes
Medical tests can be issued to see the progress of substance use disorder treatment. The root of Bill’s crimes is drug abuse. Therefore, Bill should be closely monitored and encouraged to avoid relapse. Bill’s academic results can measure the outcome of educational programmes. Also, assessing the relationship between Bill, his parents and relatives can measure the outcome of the therapy sessions.
Evaluation
Treating Bill’s drug addiction and restructuring his parental attachment are effective ways of rehabilitating the teenager. Cognitive-behavioural treatment models in Bill’s case involve liaising with his parents and relatives to form a reliable support system. In line with Hoever et al., (2012), the combination of attachment and parental control, supervision, and strictness has more impact on the child’s behaviour than child-parent attachment relationships alone. Therefore, Bill’s parents should be involved in his rehabilitation by enlightening them on the importance of balanced attachment and parental control.
Conclusion
Bill’s problems are psychologically driven. The lack of parental attachment and guidance has contributed to his delinquent behaviours. For effective rehabilitation, Bill should undergo substance use disorder treatment. Also, his parents should be involved in his rehabilitation to ensure Bill falls back to a supportive environment after prison.
References
Enggist, S., Møller, L., Galea, G., & Udesen, C. (2014). Prisons and health. WHO Regional Office for Europe.
Hermann, Donald H.J. (2017) “Restorative Justice and Retributive Justice: An Opportunity for Cooperation or an Occasion for Conflict in the Search for Justice,” Seattle Journal for Social Justice: Vol. 16: Iss.1, Article 11
Hoeve, M., Stams, G. J. J., Van der Put, C. E., Dubas, J. S., Van der Laan, P. H., & Gerris, J. R. (2012). A meta-analysis of attachment to parents and delinquency. Journal of abnormal child psychology, 40(5), 771-785.
Legistlative Analyst’s Office. (2017). Improving In-Prison Rehabilitation Programs. Carlifonia: Legistlative Analyst’s Office.
Miller, M. J. (2016). Indulgent parenting: The impact on children. Retrieved 1st, July.