With the peak age of juvenile incarceration being 16 for females and 17 for males (Drerup 1), it is essential for these children to learn at the youngest possible age that crime and drugs do not pay. Of the _______________________ juveniles detained in the justice system in the year 2000, 56% of boys and 40% of girls tested positive for substance use (Chassin 2); not to mention more than half of the admissions in drug treatment facilities were from males who had been incarcerated as juveniles, along with 39% of females (Chassin 2). Substance dependence is one of the “core” causes of juvenile incarceration, whether it is through theft to obtain money for drugs or alcohol, or violence because of a drug induced outburst. It has been noted that an estimated 500-1,200 adolescents are court ordered to incarceration at any one facility per year, with an annual recidivism rate of approximately 35% (Stein 2). Simply placing juveniles in a prison-like setting and putting the facts of a substance dependence problem on the back burner is obviously not working.
In her essay, Why Juvenile Detention makes Teens Worse, Maia Szalavitz claims that those adolescent who entered the Juvenile justice system even briefly are more likely to be arrested later on in their adult life than those who have never been in the Juvenile system. Jennifer Gonnerman agrees. In her essay entitled, “The lost Boys of Tyron” she confirms the problem and suggests a solution. They both feel that that the Juvenile system is poor, but Szalavitz further believes that it has to do with the lack of positive direction in peer groups that cause kids to be worst. “By having them together, they form relationships.” When they are among so many different criminal associations with different behaviors this is more likely to increase the problem plus group experience tends to glamorize delinquency and drug use.
Studies have shown that juveniles who complete drug court programs are less likely to repeat drug-related offenses, versus juveniles who do not complete the programs. Juvenile drug courts are usually more effective than other alternatives or court programs. There have not been any studies to examine the effectiveness of participating in juvenile drug courts for determining adult criminality. 68% of criminal activity committed by adults, are former juvenile delinquents. Drug users are more likely to commit crimes then non-drug users.
Delinquncy is prevalent in adolescents, as the United States juvenile justice system has a large portion of inmates under the age of fifteen (Cloward, & Ohlin, 2013). According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) uniform crime reporting program, last year alone law enforcement agencies made around 253,000 arrests of adolescents younger than 13 (Akers, 2011); around 10% of these arrests were for status offenses (for example curfew violation, running away from home, and liquor law violations). Overall, children aged lower then thirteen make up around 9% of all juvenile arrests (i.e. arrests of individuals below 18 years). In addition, over recent years the number of arrests of juveniles for property related crimes reduced 17%, whereas, arrests for violent crimes raised to 45%.
According to Baer, from 1997 to 2010, the rate of youth incarceration dropped 37 percent (July 23, 2010). The United States leads the industrialized world in detaining juveniles, and said that the majority of incarcerated juvenile's are held for nonviolent offenses such as truancy and low-level property crime (Maryland Transfer
Juveniles Tried As Adults Dorothy Isaac CRJ 376- Court Systems and Processes April 17, 2014 Abstract When a child kills, does he instantly become an adult? Or does he maintain some trappings of childhood, despite the gravity of his actions? These are the questions plaguing the American legal system today, as the violent acts of juvenile offenders continue to make headlines. Trial as an adult is a situation when a juvenile offender is tried as if he/she were an adult. Where specific protections exist for juvenile offenders such as suppression of an offender's name or picture or a closed courtroom where the proceedings are not made public, these protections may be waived.
Past gang members tend to report the same level of antisocial behaviors and of those delinquents who never were involved in gangs, it is suggested that active gang participants worsen delinquency and aggression. In the article they stated that there is efforts trying to prevent gang involvement would have a dramatic impact on the frequency and severity of youth offensive. The second article touch on how adolescent delinquency is a large part of gang action more focused in the inner cities. The juvenile correctional institution was focused on adolescents committing crimes so that they were able to separate from
. .” - Judge LaDoris Cordell, Superior Court of Santa Clara County, California As the frequency and the seriousness of juvenile offending increases, our legislature has responded by making it easier for juvenile offenders to be tried as adults in the criminal justice system. This could be more harmful than helpful, as our juveniles get lost in a correctional system filled with hardened criminals, more opportunity to become repeat offenders, and less opportunity for rehabilitation. “If we could take every kid and surround the kid with full-time staffs of psychologists and child advocates and drug and alcohol counselors, then perhaps no kid should be in adult court. But the fact is, there are only a limited number of resources in the juvenile justice system, and they can only perform a limited number of functions.
2% of all persons executed. Roper vs. Simmons ruled that the death penalty for juveniles is a disporcinate punishment for offenders under the age 18 anf therefore a violation of the 8th amendment against cruel and unuasual punishment...now has come to an end. Approximately 60% of juvenile offenders return to prison within 3 years after their release. Assignment: I think in some cases depending on how serious the crime was or other circumstances then juveniles should be granted right to a jury trial and be treated similar to how adult offenders would be treated in the justice system. I think in some ways its and advantage because it will help place habitual or serious offenders out of the community and into some other placement to get treatment.
According to California penal code 314 (Indecent exposure) you may be subject to registering as a California sex offender if convicted (Shouse, 2012). Indecent exposure can be something as simple as going to the restroom on the side of the road in a public place or being over 18 and having wiling intercourse with a minor. For example, Kevin Teichen is a known sex offender who has served time in prison for having sex with two underage 16 year olds (zorn, 2011). Although Kevin has the social skills as a ten year old the two girls were underage so he received a five-year prison sentence. Kevin is not expected to be put on parole when he is eligible because he has no place to go but his parents.