Youth and Crime Exam 1

Juvenile Justice System

Handles anyone under the age of 18 or not going to court.

Children

Fundamentally different from adults in terms of treatment.

Parents patriot

The state is somewhat of a caretaker of children.

Juvenile

Person younger than 18.

Adjudication

Finding juveniles committed a delinquent act.

Disposition

Sentence/sentencing order; legally binding decision by judge.

Juvenile court

Focuses on individual rather than crime; goal is rehabilitation and treatment.

Delinquency offenses

Acts that would be crimes regardless of the person's age.

Examples of delinquency offenses

Murder, rape, burglary, robbery, armed robbery, arson.

Status offenses

Acts only illegal because of person's age.

Examples of status offenses

Truancy (skipping school), liquor law, curfew, running away.

Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act

Provide money for states to follow a series of federal protections known as 'core protections.'

Core protections

Requirements overseen by the office of JJ&DP.

Institutionalization of status offense and non-offenders

Status offenders shouldn't be locked up in secure facilities.

Sight and sound operation

If they have more dangerous offenses, should be separated from non-lethal offenders.

Jail removal

Juveniles cannot be held in adult jails.

Disproportionate minority confinement

Protection against minority confinement.

Age of jurisdiction

State laws vary drastically; most don't specify an age, many it's 17.

Labor to adult court

Occurs when jurisdiction over a juvenile case is transferred from juvenile to adult court.

Automatic waiver

12 states; capital crimes.

Concurrent jurisdiction

12 states; option to decide if juvenile or criminal.

Judicial waiver

46 states; gives authority to judge.

Once an adult always an adult

Once in adult court, always tried in adult court.

What has characterized the Juvenile Justice system over time?

Cycles between punishment and rehabilitation, often influenced by fear and politics.

What was the focus of the juvenile justice system in colonial times?

Punitive approaches.

What shift occurred in the juvenile justice system in the late 18th and early 19th centuries?

A shift toward a rehabilitative paradigm.

What significant legal rights were established for youth in the 1960s?

Due process rights.

What was the major trend in juvenile justice during the 1980s and 1990s?

A 'tough-on-crime' approach that contributed to the school-to-prison pipeline.

What is the current state of juvenile justice reform as of 2026?

Ongoing significant reform efforts, despite remaining challenges.

What were early institutions for juvenile offenders like from 1750-1890?

Almshouses and houses of refuge that were often punitive despite good intentions.

When was the first American juvenile court established?

In 1899, in Chicago.

What was the focus of the juvenile court system established in 1899?

Rehabilitation rather than punishment.

What were the conditions of state-run facilities for youth from 1920-1960?

Substandard, overcrowded, and punitive.

What landmark case established due process rights for juveniles?

In re Gault (1967).

What rights were established for juveniles in the In re Gault case?

Notice of charges, a detention hearing, sworn testimony, records of proceedings, and the right to appeal.

What legislation aimed to improve juvenile justice in 1974?

The Juvenile Justice System and Delinquency Prevention Act.

What narrative emerged during the 'Tough on Crime' era?

'Nothing works' in rehabilitation, leading to increased punitive measures.

What factors contributed to the punitive shift in the 1980s and 1990s?

Bipartisan belief in juvenile crime, panic about 'juvenile superpredators', and belief that juvenile courts were too lenient.

What was the impact of the 1994 Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act?

Lowered the age for adult prosecution and funded ineffective military boot camps.

What are some major trends in juvenile justice reform since the late 1990s?

System reviews, limiting adult transfers, detention reform, and expanded due process.

What role did the Obama Administration play in juvenile justice reform?

Banned solitary confinement for youth in federal prisons in 2016.

What have Supreme Court decisions since 2002 established regarding juvenile sentencing?

Restrictions on the death penalty and life without parole for juveniles, considering their youth and capacity for rehabilitation.

What progress has been made in juvenile justice by 2026?

Decreased youth incarceration rates, raised ages for juvenile court jurisdiction, and better recognition of mental health needs.

What challenges remain in the juvenile justice system as of 2026?

Racial disparities, inadequate funding for programs, and the persistence of the school-to-prison pipeline.

What critical questions should future professionals consider regarding juvenile justice?

The most important reforms, pressing problems like racial disparities, and the sustainability of reforms.

What should advocates for juvenile justice reform focus on?

Questioning unsupported punitive approaches, recognizing adolescent development, and supporting evidence-based interventions.

What historical patterns emerge from juvenile justice cycles over 250 years?

Noble intentions undermined by inadequate resources, mythmaking driving policy, and overrepresentation of poor youth and youth of color.

What is the significance of understanding myths like the superpredator narrative?

They can influence policy and public perception, even when proven false.

What is the importance of evidence-based interventions in juvenile justice?

They have been shown to be more effective than punitive measures.

What does the term 'parens patriae' refer to in juvenile justice?

The state acting as a parent, a principle that remains relevant today.

What was the impact of the media on juvenile crime narratives?

It exaggerated violence and disproportionately portrayed minority youth as culprits.

What are the implications of the school-to-prison pipeline?

It refers to the policies and practices that push youth out of schools and into the juvenile and criminal justice systems.