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The harshness of punishment in such cases appears to be disproportional to the crime. Indeed, Macallair states that the system was originally implemented to target the "worst of the worst." This does not appear to be the case in reality.
A further problem specific to Florida entails the disproportionate representation of race in cases transferred to the adult court system. According to Macallair's report, African-American youths are 2.3 times more likely than their white counterparts to be transferred to the adult court system.
A consequence of the disproportionate manner of punishment and racial representation, is the prison system and its effect on juvenile offenders. According to several reports, including those of Macallair (2000), Schiraldi, and Griffin, the danger that young people face in adult prisons is more extreme than that faced by normal adults. The vulnerability of a young person often makes him or her the victim of violence in adult prisons. The effect of this in turn is, ironically, not rehabilitation, but an increased tendency towards violence and further crime. Indeed, this affects not only those actually convicted, but also the youths awaiting trial for crimes from which they may be exonerated.
The current system is such that many different kinds of crimes and youths are tried and convicted through the same system. More youths are transferred to adult court systems than should be, and authorities in whose care these youths are placed are not sufficiently schooled in education to adequately help rehabilitating these youth. Indeed, available statistics show that this system is in fact hopeless in such a mission. While it has little effect in terms of deterring other youth from committing similar crimes, the recidivism rate of current youthful criminals...
They emerge from the prison system not rehabilitated, but worse than they were before, and in this state they reenter the youth society of the state.
There are many problems in the juvenile justice system of Florida. The most pertinent of these is a lack of adequate research to highlight the current situation of Florida's juvenile justice system. Research should target all problematic areas, including the recidivism rate, the different available justice systems, and racial representation.
Sources
Building Blocks for Youth. (2001). Fact Sheet: Florida's experience with Trying Juveniles as Adults. http://www.buildingblocksforyouth.org/issues/transfer/facts_florida.html
Frontline. (2000) "Does treating kids like adults make a difference?" Juvenile Justice. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/juvenile/stats/kidslikeadults.html
Griffin, Patrick. Oct. 2003. "Trying and sentencing juveniles as adults: An analysis of state transfer and blended sentencing laws." Technical Assitance to the Juvenile Court: Special Project Bulletin. http://www.nicic.org/Library/019650
Jones, Greg & Connelly, Michael. 2001. "Prison vs. Alternative Sanctions: Trying to Compare Recidivism Rates." State Commission on Criminal Sentencing Policy. http://www.msccsp.org/publications/altrecid.html
Macallair, Daniel. 2002. "The Florida Experiment: An Analysis of the Practice of Sending Kids to Adult Court." Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice. http://www.cjcj.org/pubs/florida/florida.html
Schiraldi, Vincent. (no date available). "Transfer of Youth to the Adult Court." Builidng Blocks for Youth. http://www.buildingblocksforyouth.org/statebystate/fl_transfer.html
Sources
Building Blocks for Youth. (2001). Fact Sheet: Florida's experience with Trying Juveniles as Adults. http://www.buildingblocksforyouth.org/issues/transfer/facts_florida.html
Frontline. (2000) "Does treating kids like adults make a difference?" Juvenile Justice. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/juvenile/stats/kidslikeadults.html
Griffin, Patrick. Oct. 2003. "Trying and sentencing juveniles as adults: An analysis of state transfer and blended sentencing laws." Technical Assitance to the Juvenile Court: Special Project Bulletin. http://www.nicic.org/Library/019650
Jones, Greg & Connelly, Michael. 2001. "Prison vs. Alternative Sanctions: Trying to Compare Recidivism Rates." State Commission on Criminal Sentencing Policy. http://www.msccsp.org/publications/altrecid.html
Macallair, Daniel. 2002. "The Florida Experiment: An Analysis of the Practice of Sending Kids to Adult Court." Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice. http://www.cjcj.org/pubs/florida/florida.html
Schiraldi, Vincent. (no date available). "Transfer of Youth to the Adult Court." Builidng Blocks for Youth. http://www.buildingblocksforyouth.org/statebystate/fl_transfer.html
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