Should Youth Be Charged as Adults in the Criminal Justice System?

The article argues against the practice of trying youth in adult court, highlighting that it fails to promote rehabilitation, does not deter youth crime, and causes significant harm to children. It outlines the historical context of the juvenile justice system, which was initially designed to treat rather than punish youth, and discusses the shift towards harsher punitive measures during the 1980s and 1990s, particularly affecting Black and Brown youth. The article details the various types of transfer laws that allow youth to be prosecuted as adults and emphasizes the detrimental effects of such transfers, including increased risks of violence, lack of educational opportunities, and long-term consequences on youth's futures. It concludes by noting that despite a decline in youth crime rates, harmful transfer laws persist, often ignoring the developmental differences between youth and adults. [Extracted from the article]