NCJ Number
159366
Date Published
1996
Length
5 pages
Annotation
Violent juveniles should be tried as adults, and court proceedings and criminal records of violent juvenile offenders should be open to the public.
Abstract
In particular, teenage boys who commit rape should be tried as adults, although it is better to prevent rape from occurring by increasing adult involvement in children's lives. Further, violent actions require uniform punishment regardless of age. Recent changes in middle class residential neighborhoods contribute to juvenile violence. In many families, adults are not home during the day because both parents work. Also, teenage boys have the sexual capability to act like men but do not have the emotional maturity to love, respect, and protect women. Between 1987 and 1991, the number of juveniles arrested for such violent crimes as rape, robbery, aggravated assault, and homicide increased by 50 percent. A key factor in the increased violence by juveniles is their access to weapons. Because boot camps are not always an effective "get tough" approach to violent juvenile offenders, laws need to be enacted to make young people think twice about victimizing the innocent. Violent juvenile crime will continue as long as the juvenile justice system treats young people with "kid gloves." 1 figure