A New Approach to Youth Justice

This case management framework provides youth with four powerful experiences that support and accelerate their growth. They are based on neuroscience regarding cognitive processes that translate what happens to and around us into our subjective or inner experiences of our world and, therefore, determines our behavior.[11] The experiences are presented below with the cognitive processes shown in bold print. Included with each experience is a related developmental task that youth must undertake in order to form a positive identity, which is the primary goal of youth development.[12] Identity formation is also directly related to desisting from offending.[13,14]

• Exploring who one is and can become in a manner that generates positive perceptions of self. Developmental task: Self-exploration based on a sense of trust that one’s life will be supported.
• Discovering one’s strengths, weaknesses, and special qualities in a manner that focuses attention on a positive future for oneself. Developmental task: Self-discovery based on a sense of one’s autonomy (e.g., appropriate independence).
• Efficacy in the form of believing in one’s ability to change in a manner that spurs one to plan to act. Developmental task: Self-efficacy based on a sense of initiative.
• Realization of one’s potential by taking on positive social roles in a manner that allows one to establish a positive identity. Developmental task: Self-realization based on a sense of industry (e.g., unrelenting drive to accomplish what one sets out to do).

 In GFCM, the Probation Officer facilitates the above four experiences with the bonus being that facilitation is done in a manner that involves youth in building their case plans.