Charging Juveniles as Adults: Harms and Consequences
This paper examines the negative consequences of trying and sentencing juveniles as adults in the United States criminal justice system. It surveys state-level laws that permit minors to be transferred to adult courts, then argues against this practice on multiple grounds: the declining trend in juvenile crime, the incomplete neurological development of adolescents, the dangers juveniles face in adult prison populations, the availability of specialized juvenile justice systems, and the lack of consistent national standards governing transfer decisions. Drawing on legal scholarship, psychological research, and policy analysis, the paper concludes that adult sentencing for minors increases recidivism, reduces rehabilitation prospects, and ultimately does more harm than good.
- Introduction: The Debate Over Trying Juveniles as Adults: Thesis: adult prosecution of minors causes more harm
- State Laws and the Growing Trend of Adult Prosecution for Minors: Survey of state transfer laws and rising trends
- Arguments in Favor of Charging Juveniles as Adults: Supporters cite severity of crimes and accountability
- Declining Juvenile Crime and Faulty Premises: Data shows juvenile crime is actually declining
- Developmental Immaturity and the Dangers of Adult Incarceration: Brain development and adult prison harms to youth
- The Juvenile Justice System as a Better Alternative: Specialized juvenile courts offer better rehabilitation
- Inconsistent Legislation and the Case Against Adult Sentencing: Inconsistent laws undermine fairness and effectiveness
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What makes this paper effective
- The paper marshals multiple distinct argument types — developmental psychology, criminological data, legal inconsistency, and comparative penology — rather than relying on a single line of reasoning, giving the argument breadth and depth.
- It acknowledges the opposing viewpoint fairly before systematically rebutting each claim, which strengthens the paper's credibility and meets the standards of academic argumentation.
- Concrete state-level examples (Tennessee, Minnesota, Colorado, Wisconsin, Kansas, Vermont) ground abstract policy claims in specific, verifiable legal contexts.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper demonstrates effective use of the counterargument-and-refutation structure. By presenting the pro-adult-prosecution position before systematically dismantling it with developmental research, recidivism data, and comparative juvenile justice evidence, the author models how to strengthen a persuasive essay by engaging honestly with opposing views rather than ignoring them.
Structure breakdown
The essay opens with a provocative framing statement and a clear thesis, then surveys the legal landscape before addressing opposing arguments. The middle sections each tackle a distinct argument against juvenile transfer (brain development, prison dangers, existing juvenile infrastructure, legislative inconsistency), and the paper closes with a policy-level conclusion that circles back to the opening framing. The structure is cumulative — each section adds a new layer of reasoning rather than repeating the same point.
Introduction: The Debate Over Trying Juveniles as Adults
"Old enough to do the crime, old enough to do the time" — this is an old yet still very controversial statement when contemplating whether juveniles should be tried as adults in certain circumstances (Maroney 1). Many people believe that anyone who knowingly commits a crime must suffer the same consequences, regardless of age, race, or background. However, treating children as adults in criminal contexts can have incredibly negative impacts on the psychological state and future of any given child. It is clear that charging and sentencing children as adults produces more harm than good, despite opposition calling for harsher punishments within the adult criminal justice system.
References
Cohen, Sharon. "Prosecuting Kids As Adults: Some States Ponder Changes." USA Today. Web. 2007.
Collins, Bob. "Should More Juveniles Be Charged As Adults?" Minnesota Public Radio. Web. 2008.
Maroney, Terry A. "Should Juveniles Be Tried As Adults?" Vanderbilt Law School. Web. 2007.
Roberts, Cynthia H. "Juvenile Delinquency: Cause and Effect." Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute. Web. 2012.
Spohn, Cassia & Hemmens, Craig. Courts: A Text/Reader. Sage Publishing, 2011.
State of Colorado. "When a Child Can Be Tried As An Adult." Office of Legislative Legal Services. Web. 2011.
Stawicki, Elizabeth. "What to Do When Children Commit Adult Crimes." Minnesota Public Radio. Web. 2003.
Wisconsin Council on Children & Families. "Returning 17-Year-olds to Juvenile Court." Wisconsin Counties Association. Web. 2011.
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