NCJ Number
185524
Date Published
January 2000
Length
47 pages
Annotation
This chapter reviews the origins of juvenile justice in the
United States, summarizes the legislative and policy changes that
are effectively dismantling the juvenile-criminal border, and
examines research on the impact of such policies.
Abstract
Changes in juvenile law and juvenile court procedures are slowly
dismantling the jurisdictional border between juvenile and
criminal justice. Juvenile courts across the United States are
increasingly similar to criminal courts in their methods as well
as in their general atmosphere. State and Federal laws are being
changed to send a growing number of young offenders to criminal
court, where they can be tried as if they were adults. The two
court systems appear to be moving toward complete convergence.
Policymakers and practitioners must be aware of the factors that
are leading to this convergence, and they should understand the
effects it may have on offenders, victims, and the general
community. After 30 years, the direction of juvenile justice
policy appears unlikely to reverse. Eventually, the justice
system may need to adapt to a new environment in which all
criminal matters are referred to a single system, regardless of
the offender's age. Children and adolescents will always be
cognitively, emotionally, and socially different from adults.
Abolishing the legal boundary between juvenile and criminal court
does not eliminate all challenges faced by courts in responding
to youth crime. As criminal courts begin to handle even more of
the 14-year-olds and 15-year-olds who were once the
responsibility of juvenile courts, judges and prosecutors will
need to devise special procedures and programs for youth. A new
youth justice system will have to be developed that can handle
all types of young offenders promptly and effectively.
Considerable work will be necessary to design and implement such
a system. 9 exhibits and 68 references
Date Published: January 1, 2000