Juvenile and adult justice systems: criminological theory and response comparison

Criminal System

The Juvenile Criminal System

This paper will seek to address two questions:

How is the juvenile justice system different from the adult system? Explain your response.

Response:

Gadek (2011) states that the two systems share both commonalities and differences. He presents the juvenile justice system as a rehabilitation center instead of a punishment center for juveniles. However, he also states that punishment is still a central feature of this system, though it is a last resort. Some similarities include "the police, judiciary, and corrections have discretion relative to decision making in both systems."

Gadek also states that "those adults and juveniles that admit guilt there is a system of procedural safeguards to protect their rights."

Furthermore, he argues that the other commonalities include age group separation, plea bargaining, as well as processes of hearings an appeals.

When adults are tried for crimes, it is clear that there is no lenience, and that they are tried in court (juveniles are tried in juvenile court, which has the characteristics described above). Furthermore, juvenile proceedings are not "criminal" and they are confidential so they cannot be accessed easily by the public.

2. Which do you prefer when it comes to juvenile justice? Why?

Response:

I do not know if I can choose one theory only, but if I were to do that, I would rely upon choosing the socio-cultural lens, especially referring to the impacts of social disorganization on a juvenile. According to a study, this is

"a type of criminological theory attributing variation in crime and delinquency over time and among territories to the absence or breakdown of communal institutions (e.g. family, school, church and local government) and communal relationships that traditionally encouraged cooperative relationships among people."

I believe in this theory because I think that the most important thing to an individual is his or her inherent support structure, which is often inclusive of the community around this individual, and on which the individual can build, grow, and which he or she can observe.