Juvenile Justice System Goals and Philosophies Assignment

Modern debates about juvenile justice system goals, accountability versus rehabilitation, and the influence of adolescent brain development shape how students evaluate effective policies that protect public safety while improving outcomes for youthful offenders.

Assignment Instructions

Describe the two competing goals of the juvenile justice system addressed in the module: accountability and punishment of the Get Tough Era versus the original and more recent goals of prevention and rehabilitation. Clear explanations help readers recognize how these philosophies developed across different historical periods. Then, take a position on these competing goals. Use the module readings, data presented throughout the module, and your theoretical/empirical/experiential perspectives to explain which philosophy is best for youthful offenders AND for public safety.

Thoughtful reflection on research findings strengthens academic arguments and professional judgment. How do neuroscientific arguments regarding brain development and maturity influence your position? Contemporary studies of adolescent cognition and decision making provide useful context for this discussion.

Is one philosophy (rehabilitation or punishment) more effective? Evidence from national trends shows significant changes in youth arrest and incarceration patterns over the past several decades. Can these two philosophies work alongside each other in a balanced system that improves youth outcomes AND protects the public? Many policymakers and practitioners now argue that balanced approaches reduce recidivism while supporting community safety. Make sure to support your position with a critical analysis of these different philosophies.

Effective academic writing requires organized reasoning and appropriate use of scholarly sources. Please make sure to upload a Word document with your answer.

Required Module Readings

• Steinberg, L. (2017). Adolescent brain science and juvenile justice policymaking. Psychology, Public Policy, and Law, 23(4), 410–420. https://doi.org/10.1037/law0000128
• Butts, J. A., & Mears, D. P. (2001). Reviving Juvenile Justice in a Get-Tough Era. Youth & Society, 33(2), 169-198. https://doi.org/10.1177/0044118X01033002003
• Bishop, D. M., & Feld, B. C. (2011). Trends in juvenile justice policy and practice. In B. Feld and D. Bishop (eds), The Oxford handbook of juvenile crime and juvenile justice. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780195385106.013.0035
• OJJDP (1999). Juvenile Justice: A century of change. https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/178995.pdf
• OJJDP (2022). Arrests of youth declined through 2020. https://www.ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/snapshots/DataSnapshot_UCR2020.pdf

Effective juvenile justice policy requires balancing community safety with opportunities for youth rehabilitation. Research demonstrates that adolescents process risk and consequences differently from adults, a fact that supports programs focused on treatment rather than severe punishment (Steinberg, 2017, https://doi.org/10.1037/law0000128). Evidence based interventions such as counseling, education, and family support often reduce repeat offending more successfully than incarceration. Public safety improves when youthful offenders gain skills and supervision instead of long term exposure to adult style correctional systems. A balanced model combining accountability with rehabilitative services offers the most responsible path forward for communities and courts.

Scholarly References

1. Monahan, K., Steinberg, L., & Piquero, A. (2018). Juvenile justice policy and practice in the twenty-first century. Annual Review of Criminology, 1, 195–217. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-criminol-032317-092305
2. Casey, B. J., Bonnie, R. J., & Davis, A. (2019). Revisiting the role of neuroscience in juvenile justice. Nature Human Behaviour, 3(8), 797–803. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-019-0638-9
3. Lipsey, M. W., Howell, J. C., Kelly, M. R., Chapman, G., & Carver, D. (2020). Improving the effectiveness of juvenile justice programs. Criminology & Public Policy, 19(3), 1081–1120. https://doi.org/10.1111/1745-9133.12512
4. Mears, D. P., Cochran, J. C., Greenman, S. J., Bhati, A. S., & Greenwald, M. A. (2021). Evidence on the effectiveness of juvenile rehabilitation programs. Justice Quarterly, 38(4), 689–718. https://doi.org/10.1080/07418825.2019.1702178
5. Feld, B. C., & Schiraldi, V. (2023). Youth justice reform and emerging policy trends. Crime and Justice, 52, 1–45. https://doi.org/10.1086/722201