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The American juvenile justice system

The American juvenile justice system is considered a system in crisis. It is not only overloaded by increased delinquency, and at that by increasingly violent acts of delinquency by inner city gangs in particular, but it is also a system seen as ineffective at the best of times. There has long been a tension in the system between the twin missions of punishment and rehabilitation, just as there is in the adult criminal justice system. With juveniles, however, there is the added belief that the offenders are less responsible for their actions than are adults, that the system has a role as substitute parent, and that alternatives to incarceration are particularly valuable to meld these missions. However, as juvenile crime has increased in incidence and severity, the public has become less patient and has demanded punishment over rehabilitation, seeing this as a way to protect itself against the depredations of young offenders. Community based corrections programs are seen as a viable alternative to "detention centers" in the eyes of the justice system and other professionals who work with young offenders, but the creation of such programs must also protect the public from juvenile crime and will certainly come under increased criticism for any failure to do so. This continuing contradiction in the mission of the juvenile justice system, extended now to the community programs which are seen as an important component of the juvenile justice system of the future, needs to be resolved so the public feels safe and supports the programs. Achieving this will be difficult, and some of the suggestions that have been made will be considered below.

The first juvenile court in the United States was founded in 1899 in Cook County, Illinois, which includes the city of Chicago. The court was the work of individuals and organizations dedicated to many social causes including prison reform, women's suffrage, the abolition of poverty, and child...

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The American juvenile justice system. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 10:09, March 29, 2024, from https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1687090.html