Abstract
This paper is a preliminary report of a study of the juvenile justice system and the best way to treat youthful offenders. It developes the basic thesis that juvenile offenders should be subject to a three tiered system that balances early intervention for the youngest offenders and swift and sure justice for violent offenders.

Tags:juvenile offenders, adult courts, punishment

Abstract
The purpose of this study is to examine whether trying juveniles as adults would be a more effective deterrent to crime. The theories of those who agree with this treatment and those who oppose it are discussed. The paper also looks at the idea of those who have committed violent crimes should be treated as adults. The paper concludes that treating juvenile offenders as adults will not prevent juvenile criminal activity.

From the Paper
"With the media picking up on a seeming rash of juvenile violence and crime, calls for increased attention specifically in the form of harsher punishments have been made. Some even suggest that we do away with the juvenile courts system altogether and simply try juveniles as adults at the very least when they commit violent crimes. This has resonating with some people, especially those who feel that the current system is not acting to prevent juvenile criminal activity. Such proponents argue that we should punish those who commit violent crimes equally, regardless of their age (West 2). The purpose of this study is to examine several critical voices on the subject, some who are in favor of trying juveniles as adults and some who are not. This is a complex issue that cuts to the heart of the justice system; however, it will become evident that treating juvenile offenders as adults is neither a good idea nor an effective deterrent to crime."

Tags:juvenile, delinquency, adults

Abstract
This paper explores the history of the juvenile justice system, dating back to the 1820s and until the present. The juvenile justice system in dealing with juvenile offenders has cyclically gone from a rehabilitative approach to a punitive approach a number of times since its inception. The writer of this paper contends that in certain cases juvenile criminals should be treated differently than adults who commit the same crimes and supports this claim by detailing eight possible justifications. One justification is that adults are responsible for their acts, whereas juveniles are not. Another justification is that juveniles are more pliable than adults and respond better to treatment and rehabilitation.
This paper also details various research which examines the history of the juvenile justice system from 1820 which found that when juvenile crime is determined to be high, the justice system responds with severe punishments and few rehabilitative approaches. This paper also discusses the current approach to the juvenile justice system and questions its effectiveness in dealing with juvenile offenders.

From the Paper
"What the models or approaches have neglected up to this point is the importance of the victim and the community, accountability of the offender, and competency development. So far there has been the debate between punishment versus treatment as options, but both have negative side effects and essentially ignore everything else. The need for retribution may be satisfied by punishment, but the offender can be negatively affected. Punishment can undermine self-restraint, stigmatizes the offender and creates problems of adjustment, which encourages delinquency, to name a couple, but it also encourages offenders to focus on themselves, not the victim and their responsibility."

Tags:youth, crime, law, legal, justice, system, court, rights

Abstract
The paper contends that, despite some evidence pointing towards a greater need to "lock down" juveniles, the rehabilitation strategy is much more effective and is morally correct. The paper explains the rehabilitation model as based upon the concept of "curing" an offender of his or her criminal mindset and behavior. The paper maintains that retributive justice will ultimately result in more crime because it makes juveniles harbor a lifetime of hate towards society whilst a rehabilitative system creates a greater ability to change juvenile offenders into valuable members of society.

From the Paper
"Historically the juvenile court system was created as an alternative to the current adult system for processing delinquents. It was built upon the premise that rehabilitation was a much better fundamental strategy for dealing with juvenile delinquents than the retribution model. However, recent statistics have shown an increase in juvenile violence as well as other forms of crime. In addition, there have been overwhelming statistics which point to the fact that juvenile delinquents are more than likely to commit crimes upon their release from prison. These crime waves have brought more and more juvenile offenders back to adult courts, and a greater public debate has been ongoing about the success of the rehabilitation model."

Tags:incarceration, prison, crimes, violence, mindset

Abstract
The paper defends the treatment of juvenile offenders as adults by presenting a historical overview of juvenile crime in the US and presenting both sides of the argument. The paper discusses how some suggest that adolescents are immature with insufficiently developed brain structures. They emphasize rehabilitation and treatment for them rather than punishment and retribution. The paper explains how opponents of leniency, however, underline the importance of "adult punishment for adult crimes" and believe that only the prospect of punishment would deter juvenile criminals from perpetrating vicious and violent crimes on their victims. The paper maintains that only by treating the juvenile criminal as an adult can we hope to control an escalation of crime among young people.

Outline:
Historical Overview of the Juvenile Crime in the US
Arguments For and Against
Application of Theory to the Topic
Summary and Conclusion

From the Paper
"The earliest forms of crime control laws in human societies were based on brutal punishments and made little distinction between juvenile and adult offenders. Largely, as a reaction to such inhumane forms of punishment, some European philosophers and social reformers began to introduce the philosophy of 'correction' and rehabilitation of criminals in the 17th century. As the juvenile offenders were considered to more amenable to reform, separate judicial system for younger criminals was introduced."

Tags:crime, reform, offenders, punishments

Abstract
The paper contends that if states wish to essentially take away a juvenile's life through hefty sentences, there must be clear evidence that such a process leads to a better outcome for society as a whole, and for juvenile crime rates. The paper looks at the research for and against this practice and reveals that current research is demonstrating that the process may be highly problematic. The paper concludes that although research is incomplete, it has raised some troubling questions that may one day lead us to more definitively declare that the system is dysfunctional and ineffective.

Outline:
Trending Away From Waivers?
A Questionable Deterrent Effect
Prosecutorial Waivers and Due Process
Monsters or Ordinary Kids?
Conclusion

From the Paper
"Arguably, the two most critical roles of the American justice system are to punish and hopefully rehabilitate criminal offenders. However, when it comes to the most serious crimes, such as premeditated murder, the focus can shift primarily to punishment, and offenders can face incarceration for life, and even execution. These harsh penalties have been extended to juveniles, who often can be waived to adult courts, where they are tried and subsequently imprisoned as adults. Proponents of the waiver system argue that serious crimes deserve the most severe penalties, and that even juveniles understand the basic premise that murder is wrong. Further, some believe that those who commit serious crimes such as murder may be beyond rehabilitation, and should be incarcerated for as long as possible."

Tags:children, criminals, prosecution, offenders

Abstract
This paper notes that juvenile offenders have long been treated differently by the criminal justice system, but this has been changing as community attitudes have shifted so that more and more juveniles are tried as adults. This trend largely reflects an increasing fear of crime and a belief in the power of punishment over rehabilitation. Trying juveniles as adults is not the best approach to take.

From the Paper
"The American juvenile-justice system was designed a century ago to reform children found guilty of minor crimes, but more and more, the system has to cope with more violent crimes committed by younger people. As Gil Garcetti, then District Attorney of Los Angeles, noted..."

Tags:juveniles, adult, court

Abstract
This paper looks at how to reduce juvenile crime through community-based involvement strategies. The paper begins by discussing the first stage of prevention and the need for after-school programs uniquely tailored to the demographic needs of the community. The paper then explains the second stage of reducing recidivism through family involvement and therapy-based programs and the third stage of treating juveniles already incarcerated. The paper emphasizes that the system must treat offenders as individuals and provide incentives for youths to choose a path other than the easy, short-term rewards of a life of crime.

Outline:
Step 1: Prevention
Step 2: Reducing Recidivism
Step 3: Treatment for Juveniles Already in 'the System'

From the Paper
"As with so many things in life, when it comes to preventing juvenile crime, an 'ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.' In other words, the ideal method of containing juvenile crime is to make a life of crime less attractive to potential young offenders. This is important not simply to reduce rates of criminality amongst the most vulnerable population of our society, but also to reduce crime later on, as youthful criminals are likely to become more hardened, career criminals after they age out of the juvenile justice system. Most chronic juvenile offenders are under the age of 15 when they commit their first offense (Sprague 2003:5)."

Tags:prevention, recidivism, treatment, therapy

Abstract
For more than two decades, researchers, clinicians, and juvenile justice program administrators have become increasingly concerned about the link between substance abuse and juvenile crime. This paper shows that, due to this connection, various programs are being implemented across the United States to treat the juvenile offenders in order to help deter substance abuse. In turn, this should also help deter future criminal actions.

From the Paper
"By way of comparison, law enforcement authorities arrested just over four thousand teens for rape and two thousand one hundred and seventeen for homicide. In other words, the police arrest teens for liquor law violations, drunkenness and disorderly conduct at forty-five times the rate they arrest juveniles for murder and rape combined. Many of these juveniles could have avoided the system, but substance abuse has pulled them in. The worst part is, arrests of juveniles for liquor law violations are up sixteen percent, drunkenness arrests are up fourteen percent, and disorderly conduct arrests are up fifteen percent. The statistics for underage alcohol abuse keeps increasing, which means that more and more juveniles are being put into the system and many have not been receiving the correct treatment."

Tags:liquor, laws, crime

Abstract
The paper discusses how residential child care is an innovative strategy for treating juvenile offenders who have committed or have participated in minor crime and do not have a stable home environment. The paper explains that working with local and state partners, residential child care facilities provide lodging and constant supervision for juvenile offenders for a predetermined period of time. The paper further explains that through emphasizing positive behavior and minimizing the focus on punishment, residential child care offers an alternative from the historical practices of incarcerating juvenile offenders and avoids many of the ethical issues associated with imposing harsh punishment that exceeds the cognitive and emotional comprehension of the offender.

Tags:juvenile, detention, rehabilitation