NCJ Number
125971
Journal
Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology Volume: 81 Issue: 1 Dated: (Spring 1990) Pages: 136-155
Date Published
1990
Length
20 pages
Annotation
Although substantial benefits would result from abolishing the juvenile justice system by merging it with the criminal justice system, the losses would be much greater, and the system should be retained.
Abstract
A merger would increase efficiency, reduce the frictions that currently result from transferring some juvenile cases to criminal court, and would modify or eliminate the criminal justice system's inappropriate concept of a "fresh start" for a hardened juvenile offender who is a first offender in adult court. However, the case against abolition is even stronger. It rests on the view that minors have less responsibility for their misconduct than do adults; that it is important to retain control over status offenses like running away; that the greater rehabilitation potential of minors justifies a greater allocation of resources; and that certain legal rules, such as those concerning bail, are inappropriate for juveniles. 25 footnotes.