Penn Article Discussion :

Abolition the juvenile justice system has clear advantages and disadvantages . Proponents of both ideologies have mobilized over the last 20 or so years and made no real progress . It is beneficial to first discuss the advantages of the juvenile justice system

The juvenile justice system provides flexibility that adult systems do not . There are often specialized courts to deal with drug or truancy issues . Evidence rules are often relaxed , judges often go through specialized training , and social services often plays an important role This is extremely important to make juveniles feel as

if they are actively involved and protected in the system

To be sure many juveniles are transferred to adult courts and the juvenile justice system has done little to prevent younger and younger children from finding their way to adult court systems and adult correctional institutions . In the last twenty years we have seen younger children tried for adult crimes and many who have received adult penalties

Proponents of abolishing the juvenile justice system suggest that children need to be scared straight ' or that they need to experience tough love ' Those arguments often ring true at first blush . It intuitively makes sense that being firm is important . Others will point to the rather posh juvenile detention homes and plethora of alternative punishments and proclaim that the criminal justice system is practically rewarding offenders . The condition of juvenile facilities when compared to adult facilities is quite shocking

The disadvantages of assimilating youth into the adult system include increased levels of violence , a lack of safety , and serious effects on an individual 's self esteem that could in fact ruin children for life Youth make easy targets for violent inmates and guards . The stakes are certainly significant...