Juvenile justice is important for reducing future delinquent activities and recidivism. It builds accountability and engages youth in programs that promote development outside the courtroom — including mental health, substance abuse, familial interventions, behavior modification, and life skill programs. Below are two ways monitoring technology can improve the chances of success for justice-impacted youth.
Reduces stigma.
What is your perception of someone wearing an ankle monitor? A study by Cornell University found ankle monitors could be stigmatizing for the individual wearing it. While traditional monitoring products are necessary in some cases, smartphone technology is more discrete and easy for people to conceal — especially for juveniles surrounded by their peers in school for hours a day.
Traditional ankle monitors are bulky and difficult to hide under clothing — particularly for people who wear shorts, skirts and dresses. Monitoring technology like Corrisoft’s AIR® Supervisor App and AIR® Mobile provide participants with a way to comply with monitoring regulations without any major disruptions to their daily lives. It allows them to go to school and work without the added pressure of other people around them knowing they are being monitored.
Improves communication with participants, case officers, and courts.
Smartphone-based technology is uniquely important for justice-impacted youth. Kerrian Jaudon, Lauderdale County Juvenile Drug Treatment Court Coordinator, has seen firsthand how Corrisoft’s AIR® product suite bridges the gap in communication with youth participants. “The participant calendars, which can be viewed by team members, assist with building time management skills and increasing accountability while allowing access to information for their parents and guardians as well,” Jaudon said.
Jaudon and her colleagues noticed that younger individuals prefer texting over calling, which led the court to develop a custom questionnaire for weekly check-ins. Adapting to younger users in a format that best fits their needs has increased communication. Jaudon said, “Enabling texting has resulted in high engagement. Since implementing this approach, our case managers feel confident in sharing vital information and providing services to ensure program success.”
This technology not only offers a reliable form of communication — it works to streamline important conversations and gives individuals an easy way to get in contact with supervision officers. Corrisoft’s mission is to provide justice-involved individuals of all ages an alternative to incarceration. With our specialized technology products, courts are better able to meet their juvenile participants where they are and connect with them through channels that best suit their needs. If you would like to see how Corrisoft can help you streamline supervision services at your agency, request a demo today!