NCJ Number
133534
Date Published
1992
Length
7 pages
Annotation
The history of the juvenile court in the United States reveals two disparate philosophical themes: that of a court of law with legal and procedural safeguards and that of a social welfare agency with psychosocial remedies to rehabilitate youth with problem behavior.
Abstract
The issues of punishment versus treatment defines the ambivalence of the court, characterizes the difficulties it has experienced in accomplishing its diverse tasks, and dominates all other issues in the court. The juvenile justice movement began in the early 19th century when reformers conceived of a special prison for wayward youths that would emphasize education, work, and moral training. The first juvenile code and juvenile court were established in Illinois in 1859. The reform movement was well accepted by 1918. Growing problems of juvenile violence and drug abuse in the 1950's and U.S. Supreme Court decisions and social activism in the 1960's led to the 1974 passage of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act and policies of deinstitutionalization and diversion. Sharp criticisms of these policies, growing concerns about serious juvenile offenders and other problems, and the children's rights movement produced the current trend toward a more legalistic model. Throughout these changes, mental health professionals have remained important sources of evaluations and treatment recommendations in the juvenile justice system. 13 references