Some states have refocused juvenile justice efforts to include prevention and rehabilitation as goals because of a. increased crime b. financial exigency c. moral values d. lawsuits
The correct answer and explanation is:
Correct Answer: b. financial exigency
Explanation:
Some states have shifted their approach to juvenile justice to emphasize prevention and rehabilitation instead of relying primarily on incarceration and punishment. This transformation has been largely driven by financial exigency—pressing economic constraints that require governments to reduce spending while maintaining effective public services.
Incarcerating juveniles is significantly more expensive than implementing community-based alternatives focused on education, mental health services, substance abuse treatment, and job training. As state budgets tightened, especially during and after economic downturns, lawmakers began reevaluating the cost-effectiveness of traditional juvenile detention. They discovered that rehabilitation programs not only cost less but also tend to reduce recidivism more effectively than punitive measures.
Moreover, research shows that many juvenile offenders come from disadvantaged backgrounds and benefit more from supportive interventions than from punishment alone. This evidence, combined with economic pressure, helped prompt a shift toward restorative justice models. Rehabilitation-focused programs aim to address the root causes of delinquent behavior, giving young offenders a chance to reintegrate into society and become productive citizens.
Although moral values, public safety, and even lawsuits over prison conditions have played roles in shaping policy, the dominant factor that forced action in many jurisdictions was financial exigency. When faced with the need to balance budgets, states turned to data-driven, cost-effective strategies that yielded both fiscal and social benefits. This has led to reduced reliance on juvenile incarceration and increased investment in services that help prevent reoffending and promote healthier communities.