Juvenile Justice System (Coursework Sample)

Juvenile Justice System
[Name of the Writer]
[Name of the Institution]
Juvenile Justice System
The primary principles behind the formation of juvenile justice system
One of the primary principles behind the formation of juvenile justice system was supporting and strengthening families and not only the young people, as family plays an important role in young people’s lives. To guide the youth, family involvement is very essential.
Children are quite different from adults (Shay Bilchik, 1999, p.1). Juvenile justice system was formed so that the children could be treated fairly and not punished.
Factors that contributed to the evolution of the juvenile justice system
The first court of the juvenile justice system was set up two hundred years ago in Illinois, USA, in the year 1899 that separated the institutions for juveniles and adults. Snyder and Sickmund (1999) outlined certain factors that contributed to the evolution of juvenile justice system.
1 Children who were found involving in breaking the laws were given strict punishments by the parents who treated them cruelly as adult criminals. Both were treated in the same manner. When parents were unable to restrain their children from breaking the laws, the government took over the responsibility of controlling these children and the first Refuge House in New York was established in the year 1825.
2 Young people were punished in the same way as adults (Mohr, Gelles, and Schwartz 1999; Costello 1949; Abram et al 2008). Children younger than 7 years who were found involved in crimes were sent to prison with the adults.
3 During urbanization, many children were found involved in crimes. Many social activists realised that these children were imitating adults. This negative development in behaviour contributed in the evolution of juvenile justice system.
Laws and Acts implemented by Congress to aid in the evolution of Juvenile Justice System’s evolution
The first piece of law that was passed by Congress was known as Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act. The law was passed in the year 1974. This law was established to set up courts to prevent minor crimes and rehabilitate those minor criminals (Mennel 1983; Healy and Bronner 1930). Several changes were made in Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act but the basic components of the act continue to be the same.Another important step taken by Congress was the implementation of Juvenile Accountability Block Grant to make juvenile justice system stronger.