COMM 19999 Essay: Juvenile Offenders - Adult Trials and Punishment

This essay explores the contentious issue of whether juvenile offenders should be tried and punished as adults, delving into the nuances of the juvenile justice system. The research examines various aspects of juvenile crime, including behavioral patterns, responses to rehabilitation, and the influence of factors such as age, gender, and family background on the development of juvenile criminals. Through case studies and data analysis, the essay investigates the appropriateness of applying adult criminal laws to minors, considering the distinct developmental stages and potential for rehabilitation within the juvenile justice framework. The essay aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the complexities surrounding the treatment of juvenile offenders, supported by cited research and case examples, contributing to the ongoing debate on this important societal issue.

Running head: JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM
SHOULD JUVENILE OFFENDERS BE TRIED AND PUNISHED AS ADULTS?
Name of Student
Name of University
Author note

1JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM
Introduction:
Juvenile Justice System is a very sensitive topic of discussion. It is often argued that
whether the juvenile crimes should be judged in accordance with the adult criminal laws or
should they be left out just for being minors. However, there are arguments how the crimes of
a twelve-year-old kid be judged on the same platform as the crimes of a seventeen-year-old
teenager. The teenager is more on the side of adulthood and they escape the severe crimes
just based on minority. These arguments have been the topics of debate for a long time on
several platforms.
Research approach:
The purpose of this discussion is to look deeply into the juvenile justice system and
the purpose of their existence to differentiate them from the adult crimes. The research will
look into several case studies, which are based on the data analysis of juvenile crimes and the
accused. This analysis will look deeply into matters such as the behavioural patterns of the
juvenile criminals. The analysis also focuses on how they behave in the rehabilitation centres.
The research will also focus on the mindset of the juvenile criminals. They respond
differently to the punishments. Their outlook towards their situation in the rehabilitation
centres varies from person to person. These are to be backed by case studies of different
juveniles in rehabilitation centres. Moreover, research is to be conducted on how different
aspects such as gender, age, mentality and the family background of the juveniles play
different roles in the development of their characters. These factors can lead to the better
understanding of the juvenile minds and determine whether it is appropriate to judge them in
juvenile justice system or they be judged according to the adult law system.

2JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM
Bibliography:
Cochran, J. C., & Mears, D. P. (2015). Race, ethnic, and gender divides in juvenile court
sanctioning and rehabilitative intervention. Journal of Research in Crime and
Delinquency, 52(2), 181-212.
Espinosa, E. M., Sorensen, J. R., & Lopez, M. A. (2013). Youth pathways to placement: The
influence of gender, mental health need and trauma on confinement in the juvenile
justice system. Journal of youth and adolescence, 42(12), 1824-1836.
Kerig, P. K., Chaplo, S. D., Bennett, D. C., & Modrowski, C. A. (2016). “Harm as Harm”
Gang Membership, Perpetration Trauma, and Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms Among
Youth in the Juvenile Justice System. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 43(5), 635-652.
Mears, D. P., Pickett, J. T., & Mancini, C. (2015). Support for balanced juvenile justice:
Assessing views about youth, rehabilitation, and punishment. Journal of quantitative
criminology, 31(3), 459-479.
Walker, S. C., Muno, A., & Sullivan-Colglazier, C. (2015). Principles in practice: A
multistate study of gender-responsive reforms in the juvenile justice system. Crime &
Delinquency, 61(5), 742-766.