Preparing Teachers for Students in Juvenile Justice Settings

• In Event: 16.061 - Roundtable Session 4
  In Roundtable Session: 16.061-20 - Multiple Spaces of Activism for Educators and Their Students

Abstract

In the United States, there is an urgent need to ensure that youth held in correctional facilities are provided with high-quality teachers during their time in the juvenile justice system. This study reviews the very limited literature on teacher practices in juvenile correctional settings, and compares the findings with current knowledge in the field of teacher education. One key finding is that very few programs throughout the country provide specialized training or credentialing for juvenile justice teachers. It is clear that many teachers lack essential knowledge in areas important to effective teaching in such settings, including knowledge about special education, behavioral management, trauma/emotional disabilities, and multicultural competency. The article concludes with an agenda for empirical research in this area.

Authors

• Douglas B. Larkin, Montclair State University

• LaChan V Hannon, Montclair State University