NCJ Number
191640
Date Published
2000
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This paper offers a brief national review of the transfer of juveniles to the adult criminal court and the legal consequences of criminal court adjudication.
Abstract
In response to the public's outrage at juvenile crime, juveniles can be tried and sentenced as adults in all 50 States in the United States. It has become easier to transfer or waive juveniles to the adult criminal court for trial and sentencing. The changes in State transfer laws have increased the number of eligible juveniles by lowering the age requirement and expanding the list of transferable crimes. It was noted that only 2 percent of the total number of formally processed delinquency cases are transferred to criminal court. As a result of recent changes in State laws, increased numbers of violent offenders, greater willingness of juvenile court judges to transfer cases, more juvenile offenders less amenable to treatment, and fewer available treatment options within the juvenile system, the number of cases transferred has increased. What was found in the transferring of juveniles to the criminal court were significant consequences which included lengthy incarceration, abuse in adult correctional facilities, execution for capital offenses, and the loss of a number of rights and privileges with a felony conviction. These consequences were seen as potentially increasing recidivism due to limiting an offender's reintegration back into the community. References