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Example research essay topic: Juvenile Offenders Juvenile Delinquency - 1,951 words

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... are also another options, such as preventing juvenile delinquency. Unfortunately, these programs were not successful. Our legal system has two different court systems. One, Juvenile court is where we hear many of our cases on custody battles, child support payments, and even misdemeanors committed by juveniles.

Secondly, Adult courts other wise known as Criminal court. This is where adults find out their fate for a crime committed against another. Juvenile Offenders could be tried in both systems. In some cases, the prosecutor can file them directly into criminal court. This process is called concurrent jurisdiction. States have another form called statutory exclusion meaning that if the crime committed is serious enough the juvenile will automatically is tried as an adult (Hunzeker).

The Juvenile system seemed to be the answer. However, it had flaws. Juvenile offenders are protected from society. The accused does not receive a criminal record for crimes committed. This results in a problem for judges and repeat offenders.

If there is no record of their crimes, how will they do the time (Landau 90)? Small portions of cases do not even make it to court (Landau 90). Juvenile offenders are set free for crimes that adults get life in prison. If we set an example like that, juvenile violence will continue to rise. Victims are the ones who are suffering. With the inconsistencies of the Juvenile system, a young offender could walk which would be more traumatic for the victim than the crime committed against them (Valentine).

The juvenile system has failed in violent crimes committed by young people. There are suggestions to reform juvenile court system. However, if there should be a juvenile court, how should it look? To some the best answer is: about the way it looks now, but with more resources, better people, and uniform standards nationwide. "Although there have been significant changes in the mission and function of the juvenile court since 1899, basic differences between children and adults remain and continue to support the need for a specialized court, " concludes a group assembled by the Center for the Future of Children. The group made a dozen recommendations that included elevation of all juvenile courts to the highest level of general jurisdiction, improved training for juvenile court judges, a requirement that judges serve at least two to three years, and greater use of alternative dispute resolution. The group also called for guaranteed legal representation, transfers juveniles to adult court that only based on a judicial hearing and a greater variety of sanctions.

What would this mean for the youngster picked up for a first-offense burglary who turns out to have dropped out of school, is running with a street gang, and has developed a taste for drugs? Under the current system, transfer of such a case to adult court would result in a mild penalty year or so of sporadic supervision by an overworked probation officer. The current juvenile court might supplement that with an order to attend Narcotics Anonymous meetings and go back to school, which might or might not happen. There is a great deal of controversy over the trying and sentencing of juvenile offenders today. Many will argue that because the severity of Juvenile crimes has risen, the severity of its consequences should rise; however, no matter how serious the crime is, juvenile offenders tried as adults receive far worse than they deserve. The majority of Juveniles tried as adults are hardly given any form of human rights.

Adult jails are not the environment children should have to experience, especially those sentenced for misdemeanors and nonviolent crimes. There are other solutions to reducing juvenile crime. It does not take adult court to straighten out kids on the wrong path. Most children are not even able to recognize that what they had done is wrong. There may be no perfect solution to reducing juvenile crime, but there are ways far more effective than adult trying and sentencing.

When considering the idea of trying and sentencing juveniles as adults, it is important to know exactly what these procedures may entail. Amnesty International, a human rights group, found that Juveniles are often subjected to physical and sexual abuses while in detention (World: Americas Amnesty Says US Jails Too Many Children). An environment like this is far too hostile and dangerous for children. Not only does this environment bring on more punishment than needed, it is a major violation of human rights. How would a sentence like that make any child a better person? If anything, it would have more of a negative effect.

Police records show that anyone sentenced to time in an adult jail, will most-likely return in a short period. Most reports and investigations, such as Amnesty Internationals, show that juveniles sentenced to adult jails are more prone to violence than they would be outside of jail. Everyday, these children would have to defend themselves, and go through a violent struggle to get moments worth of peace and freedom. Arguments against placing juveniles in adult prisons cites a recent report from the state of Connecticut which found that youthful offenders who were placed in alternative programs were much less likely to be arrested again than juveniles sentenced to adult facilities. The American Civil Liberties Union opposes sending youthful offenders to adult prison, stating that incarcerating juveniles in adult jails puts the juveniles in danger. At the ACLU's website research is cited showing that children held in adult institutions are five times more likely to be sexually assaulted, twice as likely to be beaten by staff and fifty percent more likely to be attacked with a weapon than youngsters confined to a juvenile facility.

There are many solutions to reinsure the safety of children. The public should demand the government to build juvenile facilities. Local study states that 87 % of people surveyed agreed there should be a separate facility for serious juvenile offenders. Trying a juvenile as an adult and placing him into adult prison is one thing but then we place them in danger. Building new juvenile facilities would not only help the overcrowding; it would keep the child safe. Having juveniles sentenced to this type of facility until the age of eighteen and then transferred to an adult institution may be a solution.

The facility should hold the same discipline as an adult prison, but keeping the services provided to a minimum. We are trying to teach these criminals a lesson. Neither juvenile nor adult prison should be a pleasant place to live. There have been many recent trends in Juvenile law enforcement from ranches, to boot camps even holding the parents responsible for the parents responsible for their childrens crime (Landau 97). It is stated that students should be taught at a young age in school that if you do the crime you serve the time it also states that a society will not rest until we are crime free (Garcetti 179).

Additional problems with the system consist of the educating of society on youth offenders and it was designed for misdemeanors not felonies (Garcetti 176). The reformation of the juvenile system could reduce the number of juveniles being tried as adults. However, reforming the juvenile justice system consists of many things. In Minnesota, they have a system for juveniles where they receive two sentences Probation and adult time in jail for serious crimes. A violation of probation will land a child in jail (Valentine). Seventy-four percent surveyed agreed this form of punishment was fair and all 50 states should follow this program.

Removing violent offenders from the system, limiting the confidentiality of juvenile offenders, and deliver real rehabilitation are all ways to help reform the system. Accountability can also help revise the system, make the parents and the child responsible (Garcetti 176). Blaming the parents for the actions of their children may help eliminate youthful crime. It is said that juveniles that live in low-income areas are more subjected to crime. Parents need to take better care of their children. By charging parents with the crime, that their child has committed the United States is sending a mixed signal to us.

The Supreme Court ruled that sixteen-year-olds convicted of murder may be treated as adults and sentenced to death. But if sixteen-year-olds are treated as adults in such instances, how can parents be held responsible for the behavior of children that age (Landau 102). States need to take a closer look into the juvenile's family lives. If there is a sign of neglect or abuse then the child should be removed from the home. In a survey I conducted, 23 % stated that the parent should be held responsible for the actions of the offender. Charging the parents with crimes committed by a child can be a dangerous game of roulette.

Not all the parents do not teach their children what is write and wrong and probably all do not encourage them to commit crimes. Generally, due to some circumstances families are not able to give adequate treatment to their kids. I believe that children who commit serious crimes like murder, rape, assault, and armed robbery should be tried in adult court and placed into adult prison, especially teenagers. Teenagers know the difference between right and wrong.

They know that if they shoot and kill someone, that that is wrong. I think that if they are big enough to do the crime then they should be big enough to do the time and face their consequences. On the contrary, I do think that they should be held in a different section of the prison or what ever facility they happen to be in. I do think that the older, more hardened criminals would take advantage of power and abuse and harass the youth. However, I believe that they should be in the same facility. As with any controversial issue, there are many sides and it is very hard to explain each one equally.

One should have an open mind and look at both sides of the issue before choosing a side. Before I read some of the articles, I thought that youths should be tried in adult court depending on the crime, that has not changed, but I do think that where they are held should be considered heavily. Whether trying juveniles as adults or trying them as juveniles, we have not stopped these crimes from happening. Whether it is the reformation of the juvenile system or placing young offenders into the adult court and institutions, enough is enough. The children of today are our future. Fight to take the violence in todays society out of the view of children.

Watching the news, reading newspapers, and listening to the radio are affecting juveniles minds. Teaching children right from wrong is a start to help prevent juvenile crime. Every parent needs to take part in the prevention of this serious dilemma. The children of today are growing up fast.

However, placing our children into the adult system we are telling them that they are adults, however, they are actually adults if they commit such a serious crimes, but with not a lot of brains. We as a society need to petition our government to reform our juvenile system and build facilities that are for serious juvenile offenders. Sources: Siegel & Sienna. Juvenile Delinquency, Practice and Law (7 th Ed. ) Landau, Elaine. Teenage Violence, Englewood Cliffs: Simon S. , Schuster, Inc. , 1990. Silverstein, Here.

Kids who Kill. Brookfield, CT: Twenty-First Century Books, 1997. Garcetti, Gil, OLeary, Bradley. More Juveniles Should Be Tried as Adults. Bender and Leone, San Diego, Green haven Press Inc, 1997. Hunzeker, Donna.

Juvenile Crime, Grown Up Time, State Legislatures, 1995 web web


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