Question

Discuss the basic arguments in favor of and in opposition to the retention of the juvenile court.

Answer 1

The basic arguments in favor of and in opposition to the retention of the juvenile court; the juvenile justice system aims at rehabilitating children, rather than punishing them for their juvenile criminal behavior. Since the late 1970s, critics of the juvenile courts wanted to abolish this system, arguing that it has failed in its efforts to rehabilitate and it has not punished serious criminal behavior by young people. However, the defenders of the juvenile justice system contend that for the vast majority of juveniles, the system is a worthwhile means of addressing their problems. They maintain that a handful of violent juveniles who have committed serious crimes should not lead the public to believe that the system is inefficient and it does not provide ways of changing behavior.