Juvenile Justice System Pros And Cons
Before answering this debatable question, understanding the beginnings of the juvenile justice system should instill mind-provoking thoughts for this question. Not only should the beginnings be discussed, but the reasoning for the “transferring” of juveniles to the adult criminal system should be part of this thought process. The “pros” and “cons” for a juvenile being charged as an adult opens up events and effects which forces society to look at the struggles and issues that come with the juvenile transfer. The final point that needs to be considered is the impact for this decision on our youths in the criminal system. This question is not so easily answered. Both sides have reasoning that supports their decisions. The end product of our youth should be the focus before this old-age debatable should be answered. Society will be held accountable in the end if redemption is not in our forethought when making this decision.
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In the 1700s, the legal system had no differentiation between juveniles and adults.
Children as young as age seven were charged, tried, and sentenced in adult courts. No distinction between age, gender, or mental illness when it came to mixing juveniles and adults in an adult prison. However, society foresaw issues with combining juveniles and adults. “In 1825, the New York House of Refuge founded the Society for the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency.” The lack of morals, education, and set standards rooted the decision for rehabilitation and education against past criminal behaviors. This mindset moved forward and introduced the “first Juvenile Court in 1899 in Cook County, Illinois.” This court designed and provided rehabilitation functions and protective services for said juveniles, but this informal court also lacked legal representation for the juveniles. This informality was merely a conversation between judge and the youth. In 1974, Congress approved and passed the “Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act”
which
governs the juvenile system. This act offered grants to help in opening community-protective programs as an alternative to being institutionalized. This allowed federal standards to stand between the care and custody of the youth and family involved with the juvenile court system while also preserving the wellbeing of community safety and the avoidance of victimization. “An upward trend of juvenile crime waves evolved in the 70s and 80s.” Get tough policy such as “tough on crime forced the legal system to pass more punitive juvenile justice laws.” These laws allowed juveniles to be tried as adults but with the boundary of no death penalty or life without parole. The law saw this boundary to protect the youth from cruelty and unusual punishment.
In the 1700s, the legal system had no differentiation between juveniles and adults.
Children as young as age seven were charged, tried, and sentenced in adult courts. No distinction between age, gender, or mental illness when it came to mixing juveniles and adults in an adult prison. However, society foresaw issues with combining juveniles and adults. “In 1825, the New York House of Refuge founded the Society for the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency.” The lack of morals, education, and set standards rooted the decision for rehabilitation and education against past criminal behaviors. This mindset moved forward and introduced the “first Juvenile Court in 1899 in Cook County, Illinois.” This court designed and provided rehabilitation functions and protective services for said juveniles, but this informal court also lacked legal representation for the juveniles. This informality was merely a conversation between judge and the youth. In 1974, Congress approved and passed the “Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act”
which
governs the juvenile system. This act offered grants to help in opening community-protective programs as an alternative to being institutionalized. This allowed federal standards to stand between the care and custody of the youth and family involved with the juvenile court system while also preserving the wellbeing of community safety and the avoidance of victimization. “An upward trend of juvenile crime waves evolved in the 70s and 80s.” Get tough policy such as “tough on crime forced the legal system to pass more punitive juvenile justice laws.” These laws allowed juveniles to be tried as adults but with the boundary of no death penalty or life without parole. The law saw this boundary to protect the youth from cruelty and unusual punishment.