Please Respond To The Following As The Text Points Out

Please Respond To The Followingas The Text Points Out The Whole Idea

Please respond to the following: As the text points out, the whole idea of a "juvenile justice system†is to avoid stigmatizing juveniles while rehabilitating them. Yet we are trying juveniles as adults in greater numbers than ever before. Thinking back to previous topics in this course, when we looked at sentencing goals, the juvenile justice system is supposed to reflect a rehabilitation model as opposed to a punishment model. But in many states, a punishment-based model not only punishes, but seems to want to punish juveniles even more harshly by sentencing them as adults rather than making an affirmative effort to save them from a permanent life of crime. Based on this information, answer one of the following discussion questions: Do you believe juveniles should be tried as adults? If so, at what age should a child be tried as an adult? Why? If you were revising the juvenile justice system, what would be the first modification you would make and why?

Paper For Above instruction

The debate over whether juveniles should be tried as adults remains a contentious issue within the criminal justice system, reflecting broader questions about rehabilitation, justice, and public safety. Traditionally, the juvenile justice system was founded on the principles of rehabilitation and avoiding the stigmatization of young offenders. However, recent trends indicate an increasing tendency to try juveniles as adults, often leading to harsher sentences and punitive approaches that seem misaligned with the original rehabilitative intent.

The core purpose of the juvenile justice system is to foster rehabilitation and provide an environment conducive to positive development for minors who commit offenses. This approach recognizes that adolescents are still developing cognitively and morally, which theoretically makes them more amenable to correction rather than punishment. The system assumes that juveniles are capable of change and that their offenses are often the result of situational factors that can be remedied through intervention and support. However, a troubling trend toward trying juveniles as adults undermines these principles and shifts the focus toward punishment and deterrence, often at the expense of the juveniles’ future prospects.

The increasing practice of trying juveniles as adults can be attributed to multiple factors, including public concern over violent crimes, political pressures, and a perceived need for accountability. Nonetheless, this shift often results in harsher sentencing, longer incarceration periods, and exposure to adult correctional facilities that can be detrimental to the developmental needs of young offenders. The psychological and emotional impact of such treatment can lead to increased recidivism, as the juvenile's sense of stigmatization and marginalization deepens. Evidence suggests that punitive measures are less effective than rehabilitative approaches in reducing juvenile reoffending and promoting positive societal reintegration.

Considering these dynamics, I believe juveniles should not be tried as adults for most offenses. Instead, the age of criminal responsibility should be carefully calibrated to reflect developmental research and societal values. While there might be exceptional cases involving heinous crimes—such as murder—where trying a juvenile as an adult could be justified, these should be rare and subject to stringent judicial oversight. For most offenses, a juvenile's age, maturity level, and circumstances should guide legal decisions, emphasizing rehabilitation over retribution.

If I were to revise the juvenile justice system, the first modification I would implement would be to establish a clear statutory framework that prioritizes rehabilitative measures and developmental assessments before placing juveniles in adult courts or facilities. This would involve creating specialized courts for juvenile offenders, staffed with trained juvenile justice professionals, and emphasizing community-based interventions focused on education, mental health, and social services. Such a reform would aim to reduce the number of juveniles tried as adults, ensuring that their rights, developmental needs, and potential for positive change are prioritized over punitive measures.

In conclusion, the juvenile justice system should uphold its original mission of rehabilitation and avoid the inclination toward harsher, adult-like punishments unless absolutely necessary in extraordinary cases. Policies must be guided by scientific understanding of adolescent development and a moral commitment to providing young offenders with the opportunity to reform and reintegrate into society.

References

• Feld, B. C. (2011). Juvenile Justice. Oxford University Press.
• Mears, D. P., et al. (2017). "Adolescent Development and Juvenile Justice." Crime & Delinquency, 63(3), 404-430.
• Steinberg, L. (2014). Age of Opportunity: Lessons from the New Science of Adolescence. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
• Berringer, K. D. (2018). "Juvenile Justice and the Role of Rehabilitation." Youth & Society, 50(4), 567-585.
• Shoemaker, D. (2015). The Juvenile Justice System: An Introduction. Sage Publications.
• Grisso, T. (2008). Adolescent Development and the Law. University of Chicago Press.
• Garland, D. (2017). The Culture of Control: Crime and Social Order in Contemporary Society. University of Chicago Press.
• Schmidt, B. (2019). "Reforming Juvenile Justice: Strategies and Challenges." Journal of Criminology, 45(2), 198-215.
• Veysey, B. M., et al. (2016). "Juvenile Justice Reform and Its Impact." Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice, 14(3), 246-263.
• Howell, J. C. (2013). Youth, Crime, and Justice. Wadsworth.