NCJ Number
171442
Journal
Policy Studies Journal Volume: 23 Issue: 4 Dated: (Winter, 1995) Pages: 636-651
Date Published
1995
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This analysis of policy analysis and policymaking in juvenile justice concludes that policy analysis and design based on the work of professional experts can be antithetical to democracy, and that youths, their families, parents, and communities can and need to become empowered for justice and democracy to prevail.
Abstract
Policy design and analysis is conducted mainly by professional experts who often use objectively defined criteria in the selection of those eligible for a policy and objective measurements to evaluate program effectiveness. Juvenile justice policies such as Juvenile Intensive Probation Supervision (JIPS) often are developed by experts who aim at correcting individual problems of youths rather than identifying problems with the structures of society. Policies such as JIPS do not encourage the participation of the recipients or of the wider community. In essence, the experts are removing power from already-powerless youths and citizens and thus are placing it in the hands of a few who are regarded as knowing what is best for everyone. Thus, policies developed by experts often do not encourage democracy and citizenship. In contrast, a community-centered and bottom-up approach to decision-making and policymaking would represent a truly participatory democracy. To accomplish this, the voices of youth, parents, and community residents need to be heard and included in policymaking, because authentic democratic participation is crucial to improving the conditions of society. 62 references (Author abstract modified)