NCJ Number
224982
Editor(s)
Liz Ryan,
Jason Ziedenberg
Date Published
March 2007
Length
106 pages
Annotation
This report identifies the adverse impact on youth of trying and incarcerating them as adults, with examples provided from this policy being implemented in California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, North Carolina, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Abstract
Each chapter contains current and comprehensive information on the processes and policies that send youth to the adult criminal justice system, data on whom is affected, and case studies of individual youth who have been harmed by these laws. Key findings show that the overwhelming majority of youth sent to the adult criminal justice system have not committed serious, violent crimes, and increasing numbers have been placed in adult jails, where they are at risk of assault, abuse, and death; however, in contrast to this trend, admissions of youth to adult prisons are declining. Although juvenile court judges are trained and experienced in determining the facts of juvenile cases and making decisions designed to hold youth accountable while providing age-related constructive dispositions, the laws of many States do not allow them to make the decision about whether a youth should be prosecuted in adult court. Some State laws provide for automatic transfer to adult court based on a youth’s age or charged offense category. Data indicate that youth of color are disproportionately affected by these policies. For each State discussed in this report, recommendations for reform in the State’s laws and polices are offered. Among the recommendations are that the age of juvenile court jurisdiction be increased to 18, that any youth age 18 and under be prohibited from placement in adult jails and prison, that only juvenile judges have the authority to transfer a youth to adult court, and that investments be made in effective legal counsel for youth and developmentally appropriate treatment for youth under the juvenile justice system.