NCJ Number
150290
Journal
CQ Researcher Volume: 4 Issue: 8 Dated: (February 1994) Pages: 171-178
Date Published
1994
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This article examines the issues surrounding the question of punishment for violent juvenile offenders.
Abstract
The issues at stake are whether violent juvenile offenders should be tried as adults for their crimes and whether the emphasis in the juvenile justice system should continue to be on rehabilitation. The article provides background on the emergence of the juvenile justice system in the late 19th Century, reflecting an interest in reforming delinquent children. In the 1970's, two rival positions, one advocating rehabilitation and one advocating harsher punishments, struggled for dominance in juvenile justice policies. Two current issues that are examined in detail here include the dramatic rise in violent crimes by juveniles, many of whom used guns, and the secrecy within which juvenile proceedings take place. One antidote to juvenile delinquency supported by both liberals and conservatives is early intervention in the lives of at-risk children. 38 notes and 13 references