What are the stages in the historical development of the juvenile justice system and of separate treatment for juveniles? What is the philosophy underlying today's juvenile courts?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

The poor laws of 1601 reflected a compassionate attitude toward the poor and the fact that children were sometimes victims of these circumstances. The chancery courts in the 15th century originated the principle of parens patriae; a concept that the government can intervene in family matters. This concept still exists today.
The child-savers movement, from about 1850 to 1890, consisted of group of reform-minded individuals who sought to improve the living conditions of poor urban children. The children were sent to rural families and some received great benefits, while some were no more that free laborers.

The refuge movement in the 1800s condemned the punitive approach to juveniles and was supposed to reform the children, although most of the children's days were spent working.

As juvenile detention facilities emerged, so did juvenile courts. The first court that was specifically for juveniles was developed in Illinois in 1899 . Early juvenile courts were focused on providing individual decisions that were in the best interest of the children.

The progression of juvenile courts started affording the children with adult-like rights and has ultimately led to adult-like adjudication.