Juvenile Justice System: Strengths and Limitations

On the surface, the juvenile justice system closely resembles the adult criminal justice system, but there are dramatic differences. While the criminal justice system considers shame to be a component of correctional criminal justice, the juvenile system takes great care to protect even the most violent youthful offenders until they are deemed adults and are eligible to enter the main criminal justice system. Most youthful offenders are subject to truncated due process rights in order to protect their interests as children, and they are stewarded through the juvenile criminal justice system with the hope that they can be reformed. (However, some young offenders accused of very serious crimes are tried as adults and receive the same methods of adjudication and correction as adult offenders.)

For the most part, child criminals are protected from scrutiny at large and entered into a system that ideally helps them change their behavior patterns and become functioning, contributing members of society. Although protecting the interests of the child offender is of great concern, the stigma of being a delinquent-a term that was, incidentally, coined to avoid stigmatization-still proves to be problematic in society and, therefore, possibly undermines the attempt at reform rather than punishment.

Brief description of two strengths and two limitations of the modern juvenile justice system. Be specific and use examples to illustrate. Then, take a position: Do you believe that the juvenile justice system has a raison d'être-a reason to be? Justify your position with specific examples.