Creating a model of integrated restorative justice and treatment for juvenile sex offenders

Abstract

The current United States criminal justice system uses a strictly punitive approach in handling cases of sex offenses committed by juveniles. This paper addresses the failures of the current system and analyzes the positive and negative aspects of three alternative models: restorative justice, multisystemic therapy, and the Good Lives Model. Drawing on sociological, criminological, and feminist literature, crime databases, and interviews with professionals in the fields of restorative and juvenile justice, it is shown that no single model meets the needs of stakeholders in juvenile sex offense cases. Instead, I will propose an integrated holistic model of restorative justice and multifaceted treatment that utilizes the most effective aspects of existing alternative models and adds program components related to sexuality and consent would be most beneficial for use with juvenile sex offenders.