The Importance of a Preventive Approach in the Juvenile Justice System

by | Nov 26, 2023 | criminal justice

How important is a preventive approach (as opposed to a reactionary approach) in the juvenile justice system?  Why is this important?  Should it be more or less important in the juvenile system than the adult system?  Justify your answer.

 

Sample solution

Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell. 

In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.


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God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.

Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.

To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.

 

References

Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.

Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.

Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.

Sample Answer

Sample Answer

The Importance of a Preventive Approach in the Juvenile Justice System
Introduction
The juvenile justice system plays a crucial role in addressing and rehabilitating young offenders. In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the importance of a preventive approach in the juvenile justice system, as opposed to a reactive or punitive approach. This essay will discuss the significance of a preventive approach and why it is essential in the juvenile justice system. Furthermore, it will explore whether this approach should be more or less important in the juvenile system compared to the adult system, providing justifications for the answer.
The Significance of a Preventive Approach
A preventive approach in the juvenile justice system emphasizes interventions and strategies aimed at addressing risk factors and preventing delinquent behavior before it occurs. This approach recognizes that early intervention and support are key to reducing juvenile crime rates and promoting positive outcomes for young offenders. Here are three reasons why a preventive approach is important in the juvenile justice system:
1. Rehabilitation and Reintegration
The primary goal of the juvenile justice system is rehabilitation rather than punishment. By adopting a preventive approach, the focus shifts from reacting to offenses after they occur to addressing underlying issues and risk factors that contribute to delinquency. This allows for early intervention programs, counseling, and support services that can help young offenders turn their lives around and reintegrate into society successfully.
2. Long-Term Cost Savings
Investing in prevention programs can yield long-term cost savings for society. By targeting at-risk youth and providing them with the necessary resources and support, we can reduce the likelihood of future criminal behavior. This, in turn, reduces the strain on the juvenile justice system and other related systems, such as law enforcement, courts, and correctional facilities. Prevention is not only morally justifiable but also economically prudent.
3. Promoting Positive Youth Development
A preventive approach recognizes that juveniles are still developing both physically and psychologically. It takes into account the various social, economic, and environmental factors that contribute to delinquency. By addressing these underlying factors early on, we can promote positive youth development and provide young offenders with opportunities for growth and success. This not only benefits the individual but also society as a whole.
Importance in the Juvenile System vs. Adult System
While a preventive approach is crucial in both the juvenile and adult justice systems, it should be given greater importance in the juvenile system. Here are two justifications for this:
1. Developmental Differences
Juveniles differ significantly from adults in terms of brain development, decision-making capabilities, and susceptibility to external influences. Their actions are often driven by impulsivity, peer pressure, or lack of maturity, rather than deep-rooted criminal intent. Recognizing these developmental differences, a preventive approach is better suited to address the underlying issues that contribute to delinquency in juveniles. This approach focuses on rehabilitation, education, and support rather than punitive measures.
2. Potential for Positive Change
Youth have a greater potential for positive change compared to adults due to their developmental stage. By prioritizing prevention and early intervention in the juvenile justice system, we can redirect young offenders towards more productive and law-abiding paths. Adolescence provides a critical window of opportunity for growth, learning, and behavioral change. Ignoring or underestimating this potential would be a missed opportunity to address root causes and promote positive outcomes for young offenders.
Conclusion
In conclusion, a preventive approach in the juvenile justice system is of paramount importance. It emphasizes rehabilitation, long-term cost savings, and positive youth development. While a preventive approach is important in both the juvenile and adult justice systems, it should be given greater importance in the juvenile system due to developmental differences and the potential for positive change during adolescence. By focusing on prevention rather than reaction, we can address the root causes of delinquency, promote rehabilitation, and provide young offenders with opportunities for a brighter future.

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