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Juvenile Justice System Research Paper

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“New Orleans prosecutors are seeking life without parole [for juvenile offenders] in half of all cases; in West Baton Rouge Parish, 100 percent,” (“Justice for the Youngest Inmates”). Whenever a minor is found guilty of committing a crime, he or she must go through the processes of the juvenile justice system. There has been much controversy over how young criminals should be punished and corrected for breaking the law. The goal of the juvenile justice system is to rectify the mistakes that youths have committed in order to produce functional, well-mannered members of society. However, juveniles are often treated poorly after being tried and come out of the detention facilities in a worse condition than when they entered. The US juvenile justice…show more content…
In an article from the Orlando Sentinel, the author writes, “The Herald uncovered hundreds of accusations over the past decade of physical and sexual abuse of teens by staff, who had not been routinely subjected to thorough background checks before being hired,” (“Florida’s Juvenile Justice System Cries out for Reform”). Such abuses occur due to an environment of carelessness. Additionally, they demonstrate the poor condition in which the detention facilities are managed and how harmful exploitation of children is fostered under the lax, neglectful administration. The Supreme Court case Graham v Florida where Graham, the defendant, is faced with the possibility of life in prison without parole for a non-homicide crime, is another instance of poor regulation of juvenile justice. Chief Justice Roberts states, “I agree with the Court that Terrance Graham’s sentence of life without parole violates the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition on ‘cruel and unusual punishments,’” (Graham v Florida). Justice Roberts references the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution to describe Graham’s sentence as cruel. This signifies that the courts of juvenile justice should not impose rulings of such severity, supplementing the concept of inadequate juvenile justice regulation. Though such policies are created expressly for young offenders, they often have adverse…show more content…
The management of juvenile delinquents is substantial in today’s society as the US youth population matures into the working class. The juvenile justice system is responsible for transforming misbehaved, unruly adolescents into active, productive contributors to society. Without proper juvenile correction regulations, much of the future generation could end up impoverished, homeless, or incriminated once again. Thus, it is indispensable that society remedies the character flaws present in young offenders to ensure the development of a capable generation of
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