Final Paper

Running Head: DRAFT 1

DRAFT 6

Juvenile justice system

Student’s name

Institutional affiliation

Abstract

Juvenile justice system didn’t exist until 1899 when the first juvenile court was established in Illinois. Before then, children who had committed various crimes were charged just as adults because they were being considered as “small adults.” Concern was shown that these children who were institutionalized with adult criminals were learning advanced crimes and usually found their way back in jail (FindLaw, 2019). During revolution in America, many people were displaced and moved to major towns in search of jobs to cater for their basic needs. Children were among this population and when they were not able to find jobs, many of them became street children and started engaging in different criminal activities.

The number of children committing different crimes escalated and there was a need for the judicial system to find a solution to manage the situation. Better understanding of the development of children and compassion led to some changes in the way that they were prosecuted in courts. Juvenile institutions were being set up which dealt with teaching different life and trade skills. They acted like correctional facilities for the children (FindLaw, 2019). House of refuge was set up for reeducation of youths where intermediate sentencing was used to correct the behavior and also religious teachings were provided, offering the youths a chance to turn their lives around.

New reformatories such as foster homes were also set up in the mid-1800s where hard labor was stressed in order to punish these individuals. Separate juvenile for girls were also set up to teach them to be more responsible in the future. All these institutions were brought together to form the first juvenile court in 1899. In 1944, the first juvenile courts operated with the philosophy of parenspratiaewhere the state was expected to act as a parent and intervene where necessary if a minor was found committing any crime (CJCJ, 2020).

Since then, changes have been made in this justice system, formalizing it and making more laws to allow representation of a minor by a lawyer during trials. Stages that occur in the juvenile court include intake screening of the minors, filing of a formal petition, adjudication and lastly disposition (The National Academies Press, 2015).

Introduction

Principal Philosophy

Methodology

Results w/ data tables

Conclusion

The increase in cases of crimes committed by children necessitated the implementation of juvenile law in America. The minors who commit crimes are arraigned in juvenile courts with their defense attorneys (CJCJ, 2020). The judicial system has incorporated the laws that govern the conduct of the behavior of minors that have criminal characteristics. Juvenile systems have continued to increase in the world where the victims and their families have had notable differences in their adaptation to life after the event. There are cases where the victims in juvenile cases are unfairly treated by the members of the society who affect their livelihood and means of expression (Modrowski & Kerig, 2019). In America, for instance, the juvenile system is not fair to the black people who are seen by the fact that black schools are likely to suspend the learners while the white schools do not. This indicates the disproportionation of the minority contact with the juvenile system. Data have indicated that the black males are likely to receive an adjunction that is formal than the white male as they are grounded on ethnic inequalities as well as sex.

There are programs that have been initiated to help the youth engage in positive behaviors and increase positive social networks with participation and guidance from adults. The programs have proven to be effective in fostering positive behaviors and also in avoiding juvenile systems. There are interventions that have been sought by the counselors to assist and take care of children and the juvenile justice systems (Kuperminc et al., 2018). The counselors have decided different techniques that are dependent on the type of needs of the youths. The treatments are aimed at modification of behaviors, positive peer cultures, and guided group interactions (Koocher & Kinscherff, 2016).

References

CJCJ, (2020). Juvenile Justice History. Retrieved from http://www.cjcj.org/education1/juvenile-justice-history.html

Koocher, G. P., & Kinscherff, R. T. (2016). Ethical issues in psychology and juvenile justice. Retrieved from https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2014-56681-031

Kuperminc, G. P., Chan, W. Y., Hale, K. E., Georgia State University, & United States of America. (2018). Group Mentoring for Resilience: Increasing Positive Development and Reducing Involvement in the Juvenile Justice System. retrieved from https://www.ncjrs.gov/App/Publications/abstract.aspx?ID=274354

Modrowski, C. A., & Kerig, P. K. (2019). Investigating the association between posttraumatic risky behavior and offending in adolescents involved in the juvenile justice system. Journal of youth and adolescence, 48(10), 1952-1966 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10964-019-01120-0