Resources

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McGarvey, Sean C. “JUVENILE JUSTICE AND MENTAL HEALTH: INNOVATION IN THE LABORATORY OF HUMAN BEHAVIOR.” Jurimetrics, vol. 53, no. 1, 2012, pp. 97–120. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/24395610 . Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

This journal review discusses the American juvenile justice system and how it does not address mental health concerns among youth offenders. Children often inside the system have struggled with trauma and other societal challenges and it often goes unnoticed. 

Fagan, Jeffrey. “The Contradictions of Juvenile Crime & Punishment.” Daedalus, vol. 139, no. 3, 2010, pp. 43–61. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/20749841 . Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

This article explains that juvenile incarceration in the United States is a mix of punishment, control, and rehabilitation even though it is still harsh. While some facilities offer forms of therapy or education, their main goals tend to be limiting freedom and they often use overly strict methods. Courts often send kids to detention not only for crimes but also to “protect” them. Since the 1970s incarceration rates have gone up and down. Even though there's been some progress, the harsh punishments still remain. 

Littman, Danielle Maude, and Shannon M. Sliva. “Prison Arts Program Outcomes: A Scoping Review.” Journal of Correctional Education (1974-), vol. 71, no. 3, 2020, pp. 54–82. JSTOR,  YES https://www.jstor.org/stable/27042216 . Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

This review analyzes 25 studies, mainly from the US, highlighting the emotional benefits ( self-confidence, self-esteem, emotional stability). Though, the author still believes more research is needed. The source discusses that future studies should involve researchers, actual incarcerated individuals, and arts professionals to better understand the impact. 

Trauma and the Environment of Care in Juvenile Institutions Burrell, S. (2013). Trauma and the Environment of Care in Juvenile Institutions. Los Angeles, CA & Durham, NC: National Center for Child Traumatic Stress

This research discusses that the system fails to address trauma related behaviors and instead punishes youth. Recently a trauma-informed approach emphasizes reducing confinement, creating safe environments, and training staff to understand and respond: ensuring that youth are treated with respect and dignity for an easier rehabilitation. 

Lucas, Ashley. “When I Run in My Bare Feet: Music, Writing, and Theater in a North Carolina Women’s Prison.” American Music, vol. 31, no. 2, 2013, pp. 134–62. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.5406/americanmusic.31.2.0134.  Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

This article explores a unique Arts Workshop at the Raleigh Correctional Center for Women, which over 7 years has evolved from writing to theater to music. This article offers a case study on the purpose and impact of engaging incarcerated individuals into the Arts. Through different interviews and participation with people, the research shows how prison programs are often tools for personal rehabilitation and growth that focus on confessions. However this article challenges that view, emphasizing the role and empowering participants as artists and fostering creativity rather than just a therapeutic exercise. It talks about the greater debate about the potential of Art in prisons. 

Ryan, Paul Ryder. “Theatre as Prison Therapy.” The Drama Review: TDR, vol. 20, no. 1, 1976, pp. 31–42. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/1145035 . Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

This article discusses the therapeutic benefits of theater programs in prisons, which have shown to reduce rearrest rates among the people who participate. Studies have demonstrated that theater workshops help ex-offenders reintegrate into society more successfully than other programs. This article highlights specific programs such as Cell Block Theater in New Jersey. These programs are designed not to create professional actors, but to help participants develop practical skills and change their attitudes to work criminal behavior. The specific acting methods encourage reflection and control to aid their reintegration.