Abstract
Statement of Problem
The purpose of this project is to provide an educational guide to be used in the Social Reintegration Curriculum for an Evidence Based Practice in the greater Sacramento area: the Greater Sacramento Urban League. Adolescents transitioning from confinement encounter cultural, academic, moral, parental and peer conflicts in their everyday life. By guiding adolescents through discussions of moral, societal, academic and vocational dilemmas, facilitators and staff can lead participants toward resolving social and personal problems interfering with their successful reintegration, academic achievement and/or vocational success. While this project focuses on those individuals previously confined or placed on formal/informal probation, the curriculum can be employed as a preventative measure for those individuals who have no prior history of incarceration or formal/informal probation. This project provides preliminary research geared towards decreasing the increased rate of adolescent recidivism through a positive means by establishing a structured curriculum designed to motivate adolescents struggling with reintegration in urban communities throughout the greater Sacramento area.
Sources of Data
The research examined relevant literature in the criminal justice field, instruction manuals and guiding doctrines used by the Greater Sacramento Urban League. Personal and professional experiences were utilized to determine the necessity of such a curriculum. The historical background of the Juvenile Probation System, Parole System and the Greater Sacramento Urban League was analyzed as a means of understanding the premises in which they operate and to identify important curriculum areas for standard review. Through this examination, three significant areas of interest were identified: accountability, autonomy and principles of acceptable moral standards. These areas set the foundation of the prospectus to provide individuals with the needed tools to productively reintegrate into mainstream society after confinement, to guide those on formal or informal probation and positively influence individuals with no history or interaction with the Justice System to strive for success. To produce the curriculum, theories of social learning, institutional anomie and social control were assessed. A method of instruction was developed based on these theories, the above stated important areas of interest and the dilemmas adolescents encounter transitioning from confinement. Particular attention was directed toward conflict resolution, moral development, vocational success and educational achievement.
Conclusions Reached
The historical analysis of the Sacramento County Probation Department, Sacramento County Parole and the Greater Sacramento Urban League determined that there is a need for collaboration between these three agencies to deter adolescents and young adults from engaging in criminal activities. Community based agencies such as the Greater Sacramento Urban League have proven through their dedication and hard work that they can offer offenders and at risk youth effective intervention services based on research and best practices. The Sacramento County Probation and Parole departments are responsible for carrying out punitive and authoritarian measures with heavy caseloads, which inhibit their ability to provide ample preventative and rehabilitative measures. By comparison, evidence based practices such as the Greater Sacramento Urban League possesses the freedom to be unrestricted, open-minded, encouraging and resourceful. Accordingly, the right context, interpersonal influences and environment can set a positive foundation for change and/or deter criminal behaviors.
The literature review on social learning, anomie/strain, and social control theories provides a discussion on the nature of crime and the behavioral characteristics of those who engage in criminal activities. Furthermore, criminal justice theories were assessed to provide an understanding of the basic assumptions about criminal behavior and society for the implementation of an effective curriculum for programs that work with criminal and law-abiding citizens in community settings.
A one-size fits all curriculum was developed, based on the researcher's historical analysis of three key local organizations, the literature review on criminal justice theories and the Greater Sacramento Urban League's need for a soft-skills program. Moreover, programs that emphasize soft-skills focus on teaching individuals the fundamental components and benefits of interacting with others and conducting themselves in a respectful and professional manner throughout society (especially at work, school and home), which becomes an essential component of lifelong success.
Moreover, this curriculum utilizes diverse methods of instruction and interpretation to resolve individual, personal, social, educational, vocational, interpersonal and intrapersonal dilemmas. Curriculum categories were established using personal, professional, scholastic and interpersonal experiences. The curriculum outlines various moral issues, societal dilemmas, questioning strategies and activities that promote independent reasoning to encourage personal growth and success. This curriculum provides a guide for facilitators and staff of methods for enabling conflicts, increasing moral, encouraging academic advancement and ensuring vocational success in a structured format and setting. While this project was able to establish the need for increased collaboration with criminal justice organizations and evidence based practices in urban communities, there remains an indisputable need for further evaluation on this issue.