oblem of juvenile crime has been a hot issue in criminological debates. It is the purpose of this paper to analyze recent trends in the juvenile justice system. In discussing recent trends in the juvenile justice system it is important that we first attain an historical perspective of the various responses to juvenile crime. As we will see, the problems that confront the juvenile justice system go hand in hand with the serious problems that confront the criminal justice system as a whole. The ever popular trend that favors treating juvenile offenders as adults necessitates a brief examination of the adult criminal justice system. What this trend immediately suggests is that the lines drawn between the juvenile justice system and the criminal justice system are becoming increasingly blurred.
The above introduction has introduced two important approaches to juvenile crime: punitive and rehabilitative. Jenson reports that “Historically, juvenile justice policy has oscillated between rehabilitative and punitive approaches to managing young offenders. Policy and practice in the 1970s and 1980s emphasized individual treatment for young offenders in nonsecure, community-based programs. An increase in violent youth crime during the past decade has renewed interest in punishing delinquent youths” (324). Jenson has noticed a change over the past 30 years that favors punishment of juvenile offenders rather than preventative or rehabilitative approaches to the problem of juvenile crime. Further along in our discussion we will examine a few community based programs aimed at prevention and early intervention. We will also see that research points to the failure of these programs to deter juvenile crime. However, we must keep in mind that “Since 1990 these practice strategies have been de-emphasized in favor or strict sanctions and incarceration” (Jenson 324).
The trend that favors punitive measures does not reflect ...