Sociology

Given the following scenario write a four page paper
As a local juvenile court judge, you have been assigned the case of Jim Butler, a 13-year-old so short he can barely see over the bench.  On trial for armed robbery, the boy has been accused of threatening a woman with a knife and stealing her purse.  Barely a teenager, he has already had a long history of involvement with the law. At age 11, he was arrested for drug possession and placed on probation. Soon after, he stole a car. At age 12, he was arrested for shoplifting.  Jim is accompanied by his legal guardian, his maternal grandmother.  His parents are unavailable because his father abandoned the family years ago and his mother is currently undergoing inpatient treatment at a local drug clinic.  After talking with his attorney, Jim decides to admit to the armed robbery.  At a dispositional hearing, his court-appointed attorney tells you of the tough life Jim has been forced to endure.  His grandmother states that, although she loves the boy, her advanced age makes it impossible for her to provide the care he needs to stay out of trouble.  She says that Jim is a good boy who has developed a set of bad companions; his current scrape was precipitated by his friends.  A representative of the school system testifies that Jim has above-average intelligence and is respectful of teachers.  He has the potential, but his life circumstances have short-circuited his academic success.  Jim himself shows remorse and appears to be a sensitive youngster who is easily led astray by older youths.
You must now make a decision.  You can place Jim on probation and allow him to live with his grandmother while being monitored by county probation staff.  You can place him in a secure incarceration facility for up to three years.  You can also put him into an intermediate program such as a community-based facility, which would allow him to attend school during the day while residing in a halfway house and receiving group treatment in the evenings.  Jims’ crime was serious and involved the use of a weapon.  If he remains in the community he may offend again; if he is sent to a correctional facility, he will interact with older, tougher kids.
Write an essay on the best course of action for this case, weighing the costs and benefits of correctional treatment in these different settings.  It does not matter which action you choose; there is no correct answer.  However, you should discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each response.  Pick a response and explain why it is the best.