Summarize the arguments for and against retaining the juvenile court. Discuss the potential ramifications of the demise of the juvenile court

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Even experts who retain an independent juvenile court have called for its restructuring. Crime control advocates want to reduce the court's jurisdiction over juveniles charged with serious crimes and liberalize the prosecutor's ability to try them in adult courts. Opponents feel that the traditional parens patriae philosophy of juvenile justice ought to prevail. Some legal experts make the controversial suggestion that the juvenile court system should be discontinued and replaced by an alternative method of justice, as the rehabilitative purposes of the juvenile court have been subordinated to its role as law enforcement agent, so there is little purpose for retaining it in its current state. Over the past decade, juvenile justice experts and the general public have become intrigued by the serious juvenile crime rate in general and about violent acts committed by children in particular. As a result, some law enforcement officials and conservative legislators have demanded that the juvenile justice system take a more serious stand with dangerous juvenile offenders. Not all jurisdictions have abandoned rehabilitation as a primary dispositional goal; however, some still hold to the philosophy that placements should be based on the least detrimental alternative. As, the juvenile court not only adjudicates criminal offenses for youth but status offenses as well, there has been an effort to remove status offenders from the juvenile justice system and restrict their entry into institutional programs. Due to the development of numerous diversion programs, many children involved in truancy and incorrigible behavior who ordinarily would have been sent to a closed institution are now placed in community programs. Furthermore, an effort has been made to standardize dispositions in the juvenile court and move toward determinate sentencing. Under this effort, all children found delinquent are evaluated on a point system based on their age, prior juvenile record, and type of crime committed. Minor offenders are handled in the community and those committing more serious offenses are placed on probation. Children who commit the most serious offenses are subject to standardized institutional penalties. These changes will likely have to continue in order to make the juvenile court a working part of the "juvenile justice system.".