Research Paper on "Should Juveniles Be Tried as Adults"

Research Paper 4 pages (1352 words) Sources: 4

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Juveniles be Tried as Adults:

Though the age limit may be a little lower or higher in some parts, juveniles are generally considered to be children within 18 years who have committed a criminal act. Consequently, the punishments of juvenile delinquency are usually less harsh as compared to those of adults who have committed a similar crime. Throughout history, there has been ongoing debate on whether the juvenile justice system is a point through which children get reasons to commit criminal acts because they will have punishments that are less harsh than their adult counterparts. However, juveniles should never be tried as adults because of the different competencies and potential for change that they possess as compared to adults. The transfer of juveniles to the adult criminal courts has served as a point of increasing crime since juveniles who are tried as adults commit more crimes upon their release. Additionally, juveniles should not be tried as adults because the juvenile justice system is established with the purpose of treating rather than punishment.

Background Information:

The juvenile justice system and court was commenced over one hundred years ago with the general assumption that juvenile criminals shouldn't be tried in the adult criminal courts. This system was instituted to handle these juvenile criminals depending on their youth or age instead of the crimes they have committed. However, there was a public outcry between 1980s and 1990s for the system to become tough on juvenile criminals and try them as adults. This public outcry resulted in the enactment of laws by many states to try certain juvenile criminals as adults with some states considering the drastic suggestion of eliminating the juvenile courts ("Should Juveniles be Tried as Adults?" par, 1). The existence of this separate justice system is on the basis that there are major psychological differences between children and adults. These major psychological differences are usually aggravated by the normal development processes that are age-related and legally applicable.

Causes of Juvenile Crimes:

The debate on whether juvenile offenders should go through the same trial as their adult counterparts has increased because of the recent increase in the rate of juvenile delinquency. However, the original cause of many of the recent crimes is attributed to the early learning experiences within the family. These experiences include futile supervision, weak bonding within the family, abuse and neglect of children as well as severe and inconsistent discipline. Exposure to violence or criminal activities within the community is also a cause of juvenile delinquency especially in place where there are gangs and unlawful drug markets. Other causes of juvenile crimes include participation in a criminal peer group, school, poverty and drug abuse. Furthermore, juvenile delinquency has partly been because of the fact that people didn't expect children to commit criminal acts or become criminals.

Effects of the Problem:

Juvenile justice system has been established in order to help in resolving the unexpected connection between criminality and children given that children have different competencies and potential for change than adults. The establishment of the juvenile justice system has preserved an authoritative boundary between juveniles and adult criminal courts (Steinberg p, 1). This jurisdictional boundary has only been desecrated in severe cases of danger and defiance leading to arguments that some juvenile offenders should be exempted from the juvenile justice system because of the harshness of their offense, danger to other juveniles and history of recurring crimes. A dramatic shift has been experienced recently in the approach to juvenile crime by the general public and the policy makers as well. In most cases, the community is increasingly choosing to redefine juvenile offenders as adults instead of defining their offenses as delinquent. As a result of these recent attempts by the society to redefine juvenile criminals rather than their offenses, juveniles are being transferred and tried in the adult criminal justice system and courts. However, juveniles should not be tried as adults because of several reasons including & #8230;

Different Mental Abilities:

The normal psychological development and mental abilities processes are usually age-related and… READ MORE

How to Reference "Should Juveniles Be Tried as Adults" Research Paper in a Bibliography

Related Research Papers:

Should Juveniles Be Tried as Adults Research Proposal

Criminal Justice

Should Juveniles be tried as Adults?

The juvenile justice system in the United States has conventionally emphasized individualized treatment and rehabilitation. This focus has shifted over the years,… read more

Research Proposal 10 pages (3403 words) Sources: 7 Style: APA Topic: Child Development / Youth / Teens

---

Juveniles Being Tried as Adults Research Paper

Juveniles as Adults

When a juvenile offender commits a serious crime, one of the first issues that a prosecutor needs to decide is where to try the offender: the juvenile… read more

Research Paper 10 pages (3421 words) Sources: 10 Topic: Crime / Police / Criminal Justice

---

Juvenile Correction Research Paper

Juvenile Corrections

Before the expansion of the first contemporary juvenile court in 1899, juveniles received trials for violation of the laws in adult criminal courts (Siegel 2009, 699). The upshots… read more

Research Paper 8 pages (2458 words) Sources: 5 Topic: Child Development / Youth / Teens

---

CJ 205 Juvenile Justice Term Paper

Juvenile Justice System

Do you believe there is a growing common consensus that juveniles are somehow less culpable for their crimes since they have not been in this world as… read more

Term Paper 5 pages (2287 words) Sources: 3 Topic: Crime / Police / Criminal Justice

---

Juvenile Delinquency Juvenile Delinquent Essay

The funds saved from the revamping of the program will be used to reduce the budget and fund other programs within the state. There is a possibility that reducing the… read more

Essay 8 pages (2512 words) Sources: 8 Style: APA Topic: Child Development / Youth / Teens

---

View 100+ more related papers  >>