The Role of Juvenile Courts. The separation of the juvenile court from the adult court for hearing juvenile delinquency
cases is a major social justice statement. The textbook lays out five critical thinking questions at the end of Chapter 6. Select one for your initial post to the discussion:

a. Should the philosophy of the juvenile court system be rehabilitative or punitive? Defend your position.

b. Has Child Protective Services "run its course" like some critics suggest? Or should it be revamped? How would you revamp such a service?

c. Teen courts have become a popular option for diverting youth. Is there a downside in involving the youth's peers in the process? Support your case.

d. Although most states have retained their transfer laws, the rate of transfers to adult court has remained stable. Why do you think this is the case?

e. Do you agree with the U.S. Supreme Court in regards to the Roper v. Simmons and Miller v. Alabama cases? Why are or why not?

The Changing Role of Probation. The author of the textbook lays out three critical thinking questions at the end of Chapter 7
that examine issues surrounding probation and its role in addressing juvenile delinquency. Select one of the critical thinking questions for this discussion:

a. Probation is the workhorse of the juvenile justice system, but it often suffers from a negative image. That negative image emanates from critics who believe that probation is too lenient of a punishment. What are your views on probation? What other alternatives do you recommend?

b. Do you think probation officers should act as a treatment counselor as suggested by the Effective Practices in Community Supervision (EPICS) model? Are there any disadvantages of having probation officers act in this role?

c. Do you think that global positioning (GPS) devices are a reasonable option for monitoring juvenile delinquents? Do you think GPS devices violate their privacy rights? Why or why not?