A Scandinavian Perspective on Juvenile Justice in Baltimore City, Maryland

Author/Creator

Author/Creator ORCID

Date

2018

Type of Work

Department

Conflict Analysis and Dispute Resolution

Program

Citation of Original Publication

Rights

Abstract

The intention of this research is to find more effective way to rehabilitate juvenile delinquents in Baltimore City, Maryland. Baltimore has a higher than average rate of juvenile criminal activity compared to the rest of the United States and some areas of the world such as Scandinavian countries. Baltimore also has a higher than average number of juveniles in out-of-home treatment facilities to serve as punishment than compared to the rest of the state of Maryland. There is also a high rate of recidivism which indicates that these penalty practices are not fulfilling their function of rehabilitating juveniles and releasing them as law abiding citizens. This research quantitatively examines the rates of juvenile crime in Scandinavia and compares those rates to the juvenile crime rates in the United States with a focus on Baltimore. Subsequently, the juvenile justice system of Baltimore and the countries of Scandinavia are examined, concentrating specifically on commonly used rehabilitative disciplinary actions for juveniles committing a crime, as well as the age in which juveniles can be charged with committing a crime. Research has found that Baltimore places an emphasis on out-of-home placement facilities as penalties, and charges juveniles at a far younger age than the system in Scandinavia. Scandinavian countries focus more on rehabilitation and promoting the welfare of juvenile delinquents, contrary to Baltimore which focuses more strongly on justice for the crime committed. This research suggests that Baltimore uses a system that heavily relies on punishment for rehabilitation and should implement a more welfare-based juvenile disciplinary system that fixates on supportive rehabilitation.