Date of Conferral
2020
Degree
Ph.D.
School
Human Services
Advisor
Greg Hickman
Abstract
In the western world, juveniles move through the criminal justice system by the hundreds of thousands. The probation services for many juveniles, however, are lacking due to the limited amount of psychological counseling, mental health facilities, and available mentors. Probation officers face accelerated challenges for juvenile sex offenders, particularly those residing in rural areas where resources are even more limited. Using the attribution theory, this qualitative case study explored the perceptions and decision-making challenges facing four juvenile intensive supervision officers in rural South Carolina when placing youthful offenders. Interviews were coded and analyzed using thematic content analysis. Results showed that the lack of community support creates a hardship on participantsâ performance to provide needed services for juvenile sex offenders. The prime recommendation resulting from the study is to implement sex offendersâ responsive programs for the juvenile offender and their families. Family inclusion is a specific strategy to meet the needs of juveniles in conflict with the law living in rural South Carolina. The benefit of these programs would serve to assist juvenile sex offenders through participation in consistent rehabilitative services which may minimize opportunities for future offenses. Positive social change may occur by informing juvenile justice professionals, especially in rural areas where services may be lacking, to be more inclusive of family members as an integral part of treatment service. Effective rehabilitation services may lead to reduced repeat offences by juveniles.
Recommended Citation
Nelson Sr, Anthony Rochell, "Perceptions of Probation Officers placing Juvenile Sex Offenders in Rural South Carolina" (2020). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 9205.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/9205
