PY2110 Forensic Psychology: Effects of Imprisonment on Delinquents

This literature review explores the effects of imprisonment on young delinquents, focusing on the negative impacts of detaining youth, especially in adult detention centers. It discusses theories of punishment, including utilitarian and retributive perspectives, and theories on imprisonment, such as deprivation and importation theories. The review examines the transition from adolescence to adulthood, highlighting the importance of psychological maturity and social development in preventing crime. It also contrasts the positive and negative effects of juvenile incarceration in adult courts, considering factors like justice for severe crimes, mental development, and the risk of recidivism. The review concludes that imprisonment may not be the most effective approach for rehabilitating young offenders, suggesting alternative community-based methods.

Running head: EFFECT OF IMPRISONMENT ON YOUNG DELINQUENTS
Effect of Imprisonment on Young Delinquents
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1EFFECT OF IMPRISONMENT ON YOUNG DELINQUENTS
Literature Review
Introduction
Progressively, research focuses to the negative impacts of detaining youth guilty parties,
especially in adult detention centers. Research has demonstrated that detainment neglects to meet
the formative and criminogenic needs of youth wrongdoers and is restricted in its capacity to
give fitting restoration. Detainment regularly brings about negative behavioral and psychological
well-being outcomes, incorporating continuous engagement in culpable practices. In spite of the
fact that imprisonment of youth wrongdoers is seen as a vital methods security of the society,
explore demonstrates that it is not a compelling alternative as far as either cost or result. The
extreme behavioral issues of adolescent guilty parties are a consequence of intricate and
intelligent individual and natural variables, which inspire and keep up culpable conduct. In this
way, the concentration of successful treatment must be tending to such criminogenic needs and
the various "frameworks" in which the youngster originates from. Current research shows that
with a specific end goal to accomplish the best results for youth wrongdoers and the overall
population, community based, socially supportive methods like group counseling and other
supportive methods should be used to treat the young offenders rather than imprisoning them.
Theories on Punishment
There are two theories of Punishment, which generally exist, one is Utilitarian and
another is Retributive(van der Geest, 2016). The utilitarian postulate of discipline tries to disdain
guilty parties to dishearten, or "deflect," future criminal activities. The retributive theory seeks to
punish guilty parties since they require to be punished.

2EFFECT OF IMPRISONMENT ON YOUNG DELINQUENTS
Under the utilitarian theory, rules should be made to keep the people happy. Utilitarians
comprehend that a society free from crime is impossible to exist, but they choose to punish the
criminals as it is needed to achieve discipline in the future of the society. The utilitarian postulate
is consequential by nature(Lambie, 2013). It believes that discipline has results for both the
criminals and society and holds that the total wellbeing delivered through the discipline ought to
pass beyond the aggregate malice. One outline of consequentialism in discipline is that a prisoner
suffering from a deadly sickness. On the off chance that the prisoner’s is going to die really soon,
society is not in any way benefitted by the person’s imprisonment as he will never be again fit
for carrying out any type of crime. Rehabilitation is another method followed in utilitarian
theory(Baglivio, 2014.). Rehabilitation aims to improve the abilities of the offenders so that in
future they can alleviate their social position and does not resort to a life of crime(Krohn, 2014.).
The criminals suffering from drugs problem or from any mental illness are treated while staying
in their period of rehabilitation, it also includes certain programs to develop certain skills in the
detainees so that they can benefit from these skills in the later stages of their lives when they get
out.
The other theory that existsis retributive; it counters the idea of utilitarianism. In this
theory the criminals are punished because they deserve it, it emphasizes on the nature of the
crime committed and punishes a person because he was involved in the wrongdoing, not for the
betterment of the society(Taylor, 2013). According to retributive theory, human beings governs
their own actions, thus unless the person is mentally incompetent he/she is responsible for their
own actions and deserves to be punished if they disturb the balance of the society.

3EFFECT OF IMPRISONMENT ON YOUNG DELINQUENTS
Theories on Imprisonment of Young Offenders
Imprisonment has profound effect on the young people who gets criminally charged. Two
theories have been developed about how the young inmates are affected by imprisonment or
incarceration.
Irving Goffman, an American sociologist conducted a research on the experiences of the
inmates inside a prison, his research focused on the difficulties and humiliation faced by the
inmates. Gresham Sykes another sociologist describes in his work the levels of pain endured by
the prison inmates(Martinez, 2013). These analyses have helped in developing modern theory of
deprivation, it discusses the ways incarceration effects the lives of the prisoners in short term as
well as in long term basis.
Sociologists developed another theory after analyzing the deprivation theory model and
stated that the cultural ideologies, beliefs and social upbringing determines the behavior of the
inmates in the prisons, this theory is known as the importation theory(Kinner, 2015). According
to this theory, the feeling of deprivation does not influence the inmates but the pre acquired
attributes of the person while he was in the society dominates his actions inside the prison.
The theories of importation as well as deprivation have been tested on the young
offenders in prison. It has been seen that the juvenile offenders experience incarceration
differently than the adults(Indig, 2016). The experience of imprisonment during the adolescent
period can affect the individuals negatively and can lead to more serious consequences in the
future.The youth goes through a lot of development or changes during this period of time so if
they face such serious consequences it may lead to abnormal development.

4EFFECT OF IMPRISONMENT ON YOUNG DELINQUENTS
The Transition from Adolescence to Adulthood
This study talks about the markers, which can be identified in individuals that indicates
that they are attaining adulthood (Larson, 2016). It can include marriage, development of
relationships with other individuals, having children or jobs, living alone. There is no certain
sequence in the development of these markers. In this period of transition to adulthood, an
individual experiences certain biological and psychological changes. A person attains adulthood
once the individual has developed social skills, attains interpersonal relationships, can govern
one’s own action without any supervision, and develops a unique identity.
Psychological Maturity and Crime
There are several links, which has been seen between criminal activities and in the
transition of an individual. A person who does not feel responsible towards the society or the
community as a whole is more likely to cause harm to the society. The social development of a
individual relates with their community, schools, colleges, family and friends. Acts of
delinquency is quite common inyouths, most of these acts remain hidden but some of them come
into the attention of the justice system(Mears, 2014). The youths who get detained by law feel
withdrawn from the society, family, friends and community along with the pressure of adjusting
with the transition. The theories of importation and deprivation can help in analyzing the impact
which imprisonment can have on the delinquents. Although the positive and negative effects of
incarceration has not been proved but it is true that the young people experience a lot of
problems after being incarcerated.

5EFFECT OF IMPRISONMENT ON YOUNG DELINQUENTS
The Negative and Positive Effects of Juvenile Incarceration in Adult Courts
Positive Effects
Justice for Severe Crimes
While adolescents might be kids, they ought to be able to differentiate between right and
wrong, particularly in extraordinary conditions. Victims and their families still deserve the
feeling that justice has been served and the offender has been punished even if the person is an
adolescent.
Justice System Focuses on Age than Crime
The courts meant for youth have a strong inclination to pay attention to the age of the
delinquents as contradictory to the actual method and purpose used behind the committing the
crime that they are held responsible for (Gonçalves, 2016.). A ten-year-old kid who displays no
such regret for his crime that he committed would be given less of punishment anyway
considering his age.
Mental Development Begins Much Earlier
Majority of the States see kids to be grown-ups when they attain 18 years. This age is not
enough for the complete development of their character. In the event that they do not have the
ethical morals ingrained in their character at that age, in this age they can be expected to commit
more crimes
Adolescent Crime is Increasing
In the recent past there has been several records of numerous crimes committed by the
young delinquents. This is a horrifying truth as it shows how the young people are avoiding the
rules and regulations increasingly. (Scott, 2016. ). Quite a lot of the young criminals know about

6EFFECT OF IMPRISONMENT ON YOUNG DELINQUENTS
the existence of several loopholes in the youth justice laws and they use that information further
to serve their own purpose.
Trial by Jury
A jury is absent in the courts meant for the young people, and the young people who have
committed crimes do not go through a proper trial. The judges instead talk with a social worker
or a mediator and decide what will be the best forms of punishments for the young criminals.
Negative Effects
High Risk for the Juvenile offenders
One of the serious issues of the juvenile delinquents is that they can be sent away to the
prison meant for the seasoned criminals if they go for a trial in courts meant for adult offenders.
This is severely detrimental, particularly because they are very young and do not have the mental
composure of an adult. Majority of these young people do not have the sense of right and wrong
and they are unable to deal with the situations they face in the prisons meant for the grown ups.
Message of Lost Hope
When the young people are punished by harsh methods then they feel hopeless and
believe that they do not have any chances for having a bright future, they will only be marked as
a criminal for the rest of their lives. This is alarming for the young individual and their families.
No Variety in Punishments
Judges in youth courts have the ability to impose curfews, imprisoning the delinquents in
their own homes rather sending them to prisons (Parker, 2014.). In adult courts the judges have
no such other alternatives and they have to sent the prisoners to jails.

7EFFECT OF IMPRISONMENT ON YOUNG DELINQUENTS
Criminal Records Remain
Crimes which are in the juvenile records hold comparatively less weight on the future of
the concerned individual than those records which they might have on their adult
record(Holligan, 2015.). By sentencing the youths in adult courts, it is likely that the person’s
adult criminal record will affect him/ her in future. This completely destroy their life and the
records will haunt them throughout their entire lives.
Conclusion
In any case to conclude, the impacts of detainment demonstrates that possibly detaining
adolescents isn't the most ideal approach to teach them. It demonstrates to diminish teenagers’
inspirations to graduate and get a higher compensation while likewise leaving kids discouraged
and getting comfortable with tensions.
References:
References

8EFFECT OF IMPRISONMENT ON YOUNG DELINQUENTS
Baglivio, M. E. (2014.). The prevalence of adverse childhood experiences (ACE) in the lives of
juvenile offenders. Journal of Juvenile Justice., p.1.
Gonçalves, L. D. ( 2016.). Institutional infractions among young prisoners: a longitudinal study. .
The Prison Journal., pp.462-484.
Holligan, C. ( 2015.). “The Cake and Custard is Good!” A Qualitative Study of Teenage
Childrens' Experience of being in Prison. Children & Society., pp.366-376.
Indig, D. F. (2016). Predictors and correlates of re-incarceration among Australian young people
in custody. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Criminology., pp.73-89.
Kinner, S. D. (2015). Substance use and risk of death in young offenders: a prospective data
linkage study. Drug and alcohol review, , pp.46-50.
Krohn, M. L.-2. (2014.). Effects of official intervention on later offending in the Rochester
Youth Development Study. Labeling theory: Empirical tests, pp.179-207.
Lambie, I. a. (2013). The impact of incarceration on juvenile offenders. Clinical Psychology
Review. Clinical Psychology Review, pp.448-459.
Larson, M. S. (2016). With or without you? Contextualizing the impact of romantic relationship
breakup on crime among serious adolescent offenders. Journal of youth and
adolescence., pp.54-72.
Martinez, D. a. (2013). Informal social support among returning young offenders: A
metasynthesis of the literature. International Journal of Offender Therapy and
Comparative Criminology., pp.169-190.

9EFFECT OF IMPRISONMENT ON YOUNG DELINQUENTS
Mears, D. C. (2014). The “true” juvenile offender: Age effects and juvenile court sanctioning.
Criminology., pp.169-194.
Parker, A. M. ( 2014.). Sport in a youth prison: male young offenders' experiences of a sporting
intervention. . Journal of youth studies., pp.381-396.
Scott, E. B. ( 2016. ). Young Adulthood as a Transitional Legal Category: Science, Social
Change, and Justice Policy. Fordham L. Rev., p.641.
Taylor, I. W. (2013). The new criminology: For a social theory of deviance. . London:
Routledge.
van der Geest, V. B. (2016). The effects of incarceration on longitudinal trajectories of
employment: a follow-up in high-risk youth from ages 23 to 32. Crime & Delinquency,
pp.107-140.