A symbolic image representing family support and rehabilitation in the juvenile justice system.

Beyond Bars: Understanding How Families Perceive Juvenile Justice

Kai Mendoza in Law & Justice August 2025 • 4 min read.

"Exploring the hopes, fears, and realities of families navigating the juvenile justice system in Brazil, and what it reveals about support and rehabilitation."

When a teenager enters the juvenile justice system, it’s not just the young person who is affected. Families, often already facing significant challenges, find themselves grappling with a complex web of legal, social, and emotional issues. Understanding their perspectives is vital to improving rehabilitation efforts and supporting these vulnerable families.

A recent study from Brazil sheds light on this often-overlooked aspect of juvenile justice. Researchers Luana Alves de Souza and Liana Fortunato Costa delved into the experiences of families with incarcerated adolescents, exploring their understanding of the system, their hopes for their children, and their perceptions of the support available to them.

By examining the viewpoints of these families, we can gain valuable insights into the strengths and weaknesses of the current approach, and identify areas where interventions can be more effective and compassionate. This article unpacks the key findings of this research, offering a nuanced understanding of the challenges faced by families and the potential pathways to a more supportive and rehabilitative system.

What Does "Justice" Mean to Families?

A symbolic image representing family support and rehabilitation in the juvenile justice system.

The Brazilian study, conducted in Planaltina, involved in-depth interviews with families of adolescents serving time in a juvenile detention center. The researchers sought to understand the meaning these families attributed to the socio-educational measures, both during and prior to incarceration. The findings revealed a surprising and somewhat troubling perspective: many families viewed incarceration as the only effective measure to protect their children.

Despite the inherent restrictions on freedom, families often saw incarceration as a safer alternative to the perceived dangers of the outside world. This perspective highlights a critical gap: a lack of faith in alternative, community-based interventions. Several factors contribute to this viewpoint:

Perceived Lack of Support: Families felt previous socio-educational measures, like community service or probation, were inadequately enforced or lacked sufficient support systems to guide their children effectively.
Fear of External Influences: The families often saw the outside environment as rife with negative influences, such as drug use and gang violence, which they felt ill-equipped to combat.
Overwhelmed and Underserved: Many families were already struggling with poverty, lack of access to resources, and their own histories of trauma and instability. The juvenile justice system, rather than providing support, felt like another burden.

This reliance on incarceration as a protective measure underscores a profound sense of desperation and a lack of trust in the system's ability to offer genuine rehabilitation and support. It also points to the urgent need for more robust and effective community-based programs that address the underlying issues contributing to juvenile delinquency.

Rebuilding Trust and Reimagining Justice

The Brazilian study serves as a stark reminder that the juvenile justice system cannot operate in isolation. To be truly effective, it must prioritize family engagement, build trust through consistent support and communication, and invest in community-based alternatives that address the root causes of juvenile delinquency. By shifting the focus from punishment to rehabilitation and empowerment, we can create a system that truly serves the best interests of both the young people involved and their families.

About this Article -

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Everything You Need To Know

What does the Brazilian study reveal about families' views on incarceration for adolescents?

The Brazilian study reveals that many families view incarceration as the *only* effective measure to protect their children, despite its restrictions on freedom. This perspective stems from a perceived lack of support from alternative, community-based interventions, fear of external influences like drug use and gang violence, and the feeling of being overwhelmed and underserved by the system. This reliance on incarceration highlights a lack of trust in the system's ability to offer genuine rehabilitation and support, indicating a need for more robust community-based programs.

Why do some families in Brazil see incarceration as a safer option for their children?

Families in Brazil sometimes view incarceration as a safer option because they perceive the outside environment as rife with negative influences such as drug use and gang violence. They often feel ill-equipped to combat these influences. Additionally, they may feel that previous socio-educational measures, like community service or probation, were inadequately enforced or lacked sufficient support systems. This perspective indicates a significant gap in effective, community-based interventions and support for vulnerable families.

What are some of the challenges faced by families navigating the juvenile justice system in Brazil, according to the study?

The Brazilian study highlights several challenges faced by families. These include a perceived lack of support from the juvenile justice system, the overwhelming nature of dealing with poverty and lack of access to resources, and the burden of their own histories of trauma and instability. Families often feel that the system, rather than providing support, adds to their difficulties, leading to a sense of desperation and a lack of trust in its rehabilitative capabilities. The absence of robust family engagement further compounds these challenges.

How can the juvenile justice system in Brazil be improved to better support families and rehabilitate young offenders?

To improve the juvenile justice system, prioritizing family engagement, building trust through consistent support and communication, and investing in community-based alternatives are key. The focus should shift from punishment to rehabilitation and empowerment. Effective community-based programs should address the underlying issues contributing to juvenile delinquency, such as poverty, lack of resources, and exposure to negative influences. By addressing these root causes and providing comprehensive support, the system can better serve the best interests of both the young people involved and their families.

What implications does the Brazilian study have for juvenile justice systems in other countries?

The Brazilian study's implications extend beyond Brazil, highlighting the universal importance of family engagement and support in juvenile justice. The findings suggest that juvenile justice systems worldwide should critically assess the effectiveness of community-based alternatives, ensuring they are adequately resourced and enforced. Addressing socioeconomic factors that contribute to juvenile delinquency, such as poverty and lack of opportunity, is also crucial. The study underscores the need for a paradigm shift from punishment to rehabilitation and empowerment, emphasizing the role of families in fostering positive outcomes for young offenders.