Newsday
6 Hrs Ago
JULIET ALLEYNE
Tough love is not enough! To be effective in the rehabilitation of young offenders or children in need of supervision, it requires more than just the tough approach.
As you read, reminisce on whether you heard, witnessed or have been the recipient of “licks like peas”, kneeling on a grater, being beaten with a pot spoon or whatever was in the hands of the adult at the time. For the Caribbean parent/guardian, approaches to discipline like the examples just given, have been quite a norm for many years. This was what the foreparents knew and many of them believed that it was the only effective way to discipline their children. Likewise, the punitive system in our country, operated from the same tough love standpoint. However, the punitive system for young offenders has been evolving within recent times; moving away from punitive justice to what we now call restorative justice. In the 21st century, parents have also adopted other forms of discipline, which differ to those of the 60s or 70s Caribbean parents.
If we should take a trip down memory lane and ask persons whether these methods worked, the majority would reply, “Yuh nuh see ‘ow d boy tun out?” For the most part, many may argue that their methods allowed them to nurture children who turned out to be assets to society. Yet, one may question if those same children who turned out well, are the parents of our generation.
If so, then, where did the training go? On the flip side, if one were to interview the recipients of those kinds of punishments, the respondents may communicate the pain, hurt and discomfort they felt at the time of the punishments. Moreover, the same individuals may most likely remark that it made them into better individuals today. Yet, some did not adopt the parenting style from their family of origin, since they felt that they could have achieved the same results using different methods. Essentially, when other options are considered, better results can be achieved, which brings us to the subject matter: tough is not enough. Is it?
Research found that intervention methods which focus on only being tough as a form of discipline for children/youths, youth offenders and/or children in need of supervision, almost always fail. These include boot camps, scared straight, shock probation, para-military training, fear tactics and any other intervention that tries to scare or punish young people out of crime. Having clear rules and sanctions, fairly applied, and holding young people accountable for their behaviour is as far as tough goes before it stops being effective. In other words, tough approaches have their place, nevertheless they must be done in sync with other interventions, in order to be impactful and bring about the desired change.
Proven methods of handling indiscipline
a) Address the risk factors of deviancy, unlawful or rebellious behaviours (eg biological factors, parenting styles, living situations, peer influence, academic performance, environment/community, exposure to negative influences)
b) Use multiple techniques (modelling, new thinking, mentorship, monitoring/supervision, targeted interventions like anger management, drug treatment, parenting workshops, family intervention, effective communication, etc)
c) Provide and/or avoid associations and environments which create negative effects on the change process (antisocial/deviant peers)
d) Touch the corners of a young person’s life, which focuses not just on the individual but also on the family, school/work, peer group and community.
The reality is that studies have shown that there is no single approach that will work all the time for every young person who is offending or behaving in rebellious ways. Just like with parenting, the goal is to remember that each child is unique. Therefore discipline in the home, and strategies for working with young offenders, should also be unique to the child. Tough love as with parenting, or tough measures in the justice system applied alone, is simply, just not enough.
Juliet Alleyne is the Probation Officer II, Probation Services Unit, under the Division of Health, Wellness and Family Development, Tobago House of Assembly.
Phone: 635-1788 / 1408
Website: www.dhwfd.gov.tt
Facebook: Division of Health, Wellness and Family Development
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