Title: NVAA Learning Activity: Chapter 3.1: Specific Justice Systems and Victims' Rights, Juvenile Justice Series: Training Manual Author: Office for Victims of Crime and National Victim Assistance Academy Published: June 2002 Subject: organizational leadership 4 pages 5,550 bytes ---------------------------- NVAA Learning Activity Chapter 3.1: Specific Justice Systems and Victims' Rights, Juvenile Justice INSTRUCTOR GUIDELINES Key Concepts/Objectives to Emphasize in Instruction and Learning Activities: 1. Brief history of the juvenile justice system with an emphasis on confidentiality for the youthful offender. (3.1-4 to 3.1-5) 2. Characteristics unique to juvenile justice and to victims of juvenile offenders. (3.1-5 to 3.1-7) 3. Victims' rights within the juvenile justice system and restrictions/limitations (e.g., youthful offender confidentiality). (3.1-10 to 3.1-16) 4. Victim services in the juvenile justice system. (3.1-18 to 3.1-20) Objectives: 1. Describe the unique characteristics of victims of juvenile offenders. 2. Explain or give examples (based upon students' experiences) of one of the unique characteristics (assigned to small groups). 3. Provide two practical solutions to address each unique characteristic. Description of Activity and Faculty Guidelines: Following a lecture that highlights the four key concepts/objectives, divide students into small groups of 10 participants. Each group is assigned one of five "characteristics unique to victims of juvenile offenders" (see below), and is provided with the attached worksheet copied onto an overhead transparency, along with transparency pens: o Increased shock and trauma. o Generalizing about young people. o Failure to report crimes, or to tell helping professionals they are afraid. o Limited participatory rights in the juvenile justice system. o Frustrations about the confidentiality of information about the juvenile offender. Students have seven minutes to give two examples--based upon their reading of the chapter or personal experiences--of their group's "unique characteristic," and two potential solutions to address this characteristic. The instructor will provide two minutes for each small group report to the full group (allowing groups with the same "unique characteristic" to follow in sequence), and one minute for instructor summation. Can Be Utilized As: __X__ Individual Activity __X__ Small Group Activity __X__ Large Group Activity Anticipated Amount of Time Required: 23 Minutes o 03 minutes for small group division and faculty instructions. o 07 minutes for small group processing. o 12 minutes for small group presentations (02 minutes each). o 01 minute for instructor summation. RESOURCES NEEDED (Please check all that apply:) _____ Tear sheets and felt pens _____ VCR/monitor __X__ Overhead projector and screen/LCD and laptop __X__ Blank overhead transparencies and overhead pens _____ Masking tape _____ Index cards __X__ Individual or group worksheets (copied onto overhead transparencies) _____ Other (please describe): ---------------------------- STUDENT WORKSHEET 1. The shock, vulnerability, and trauma that victims endure may be increased due to the age of the youthful offender. Most people still want to believe that children are not capable of committing criminal acts, especially acts involving violence. Examples of This Unique Characteristic--Practical Solutions to Address This Unique Characteristic 1. --1. 2. --2. ---------------- 2. Victims of juvenile offenders may "generalize" about other youths who remind them of the perpetrator(s). This can affect their ability to trust young people in general and lead them to avoid social interactions with youths. Examples of This Unique Characteristic--Practical Solutions to Address this Unique Characteristic 1. --1. 2. --2. ---------------- 3. While many victims report increased fear following victimization by a youthful offender, they do not always tell helping professionals that they are afraid, or would like protective measures, for fear of being perceived as "weak" or "irrational." Examples of this Unique Characteristic--Practical Solutions to Address this Unique Characteristic 1. --1. 2. --2. ---------------- 4. Historically, victims of juvenile offenders have had limited participatory rights in the juvenile justice process. The lack of information about the case, combined with their not being able to participate in hearings and activities related to the outcome of the case, can compound victim trauma. Examples of This Unique Characteristic--Practical Solutions To Address This Unique Characteristic 1. --1. 2. --2. ---------------- 5. Confidentiality protections for juvenile offenders contribute to victims' frustration about getting information relevant to their cases. Examples of this Unique Characteristic--Practical Solutions to Address this Unique Characteristic 1. --1. 2. --2.