The Juvenile Justice System - 1313 Words

Today s concept of the juvenile justice system is relatively new due to significant modifications in policy overtime. The justice system has been trying to figure out effective ways to treat juvenile criminal offenders successfully for years. The justice system did not always have a special category for juveniles and their crime. Juveniles was once treated as adults when they committed crimes and were subjected to harsh punishments. The juvenile court was the culmination of efforts of the positivist criminologists and Progressive activists. It was designed to address the individual needs of delinquent children, provide care and rehabilitation, and ensure that they could go on to live lawful, productive lives. The Illinois legislature†¦show more content†¦Up until the 1960 s the juvenile court system did not have constitutional legal rights. According to Filler (2006), In re Gault, the Court held that juveniles prosecuted in juvenile courts were entitled to many procedural p rotections previously denied children. This case signaled the end of the unbridled discretion of juvenile court judges to conduct their hearings and trials in the manner described by Judge Mack at the beginning of the century. This case made it that all juveniles facing criminal charges had constitutional rights. In 1974, the U.S. congress passed the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act that protects juveniles in the justice system. Since then, Americans have adopted the get tough on crime legislation in order to strengthen juvenile laws. There are several critiques of the juvenile justice system. While some feel that the justice system is an achievement, others believe that the justice system does not implement their original policy and procedures. Many believe that courts are overwhelmed with cases and overworked volunteers and cannot successfully treat juvenile offenders. Juvenile delinquency risk factors In order to successfully treat juvenile offender we must first understand the different factors that contributed to their criminal behavior. We know that there is no underlined path to juvenile offending