What is considered the last phase of the juvenile justice process?

The last phase of the juvenile justice process is aftercare following commitment. Aftercare is designed to help juveniles reintegrate into society after they have been released from a secure facility or treatment program. This phase emphasizes continued supervision and support, aiming to reduce recidivism and provide guidance as youth transition back into their communities. It often includes monitoring, counseling, and access to services to encourage positive behavior and make the transition smoother.

While options like maximum-risk residential care, non-secure residential supervision, and probation monitoring are important components of the overall juvenile justice system, they occur in earlier phases. Maximum-risk residential care may represent a high level of confinement for more serious offenders, non-secure residential supervision involves less restrictive environments prior to re-entry, and probation monitoring serves as supervision during a youth's probation term. However, none of these phases encompass the final stage of the process, which focuses on reintegration and support in the community.