NCJ Number
244711
Date Published
October 2016
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This fact sheet presents the results of polls examining public attitudes towards the treatment of youth involved with the criminal justice system.
Abstract
This fact sheet from the National Juvenile Justice Network presents the results of polls examining public attitudes towards the treatment of youth involved with the criminal justice system. Results of recent polls suggest the following: voters believe that rehabilitation and treatment can reduce crime and will save taxpayer costs in the long run; voters support rehabilitation even for young people who commit violent crimes; voters oppose sending young people who commit crimes to adult court without an individual determination made in each case; voters agree that non-White youth are more likely than White youth to be prosecuted as adults; and voters believe strongly in a separate juvenile justice system. More results from these polls are included in the fact sheet along with information for advocates of juvenile justice reform to use in order to develop more effective messages for bringing about change and reform to the juvenile justice system.