The Development Of A Juvenile Criminal Justice System

In many countries, among them the United States of America, crime rates among the youth under the age of 18 years have significantly increased. This phenomenon is attributed to various factors, among them being family disintegration, school dropouts and other antisocial behaviors. Therefore, the development of a juvenile criminal justice system was crucial as it is tailored to distinguish the judicial process related to juvenile crimes. Various facilities such as specialized detention centers and youth centers are also put in place in order to provide a proper rehabilitative environment to address the needs of the youth offenders. However, in the recent past, the trend has changed, and the distinct justice system for the youth offenders has been under attack. In fact, the youth are currently being prosecuted as adults and confined in prisons meant for adults, a trend which has raised controversial discussions in the United States. 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