KF9779 .S36 2008Rethinking Juvenile Justice
Scott, Elizabeth S., 1945-
Booklist Review:
After decades of reading about juvenile "predators" and life sentences imposed on 15-year-old murderers, the public sentiment is swinging away from a policy of zero tolerance for young lawbreakers, according to Scott and Steinberg. The authors combine their legal and psychology backgrounds to offer a new approach to juvenile justice, based on their exploration of research not available when the punitive laws now in effect were enacted and on their review of current legal standards. They advocate a developmental model under which adolescents are treated somewhere between juveniles and adults. They offer a historical perspective, ranging from the progressive era with its emphasis on rehabilitation to the "moral panic" of the 1980s that emphasized punishment. Citing research on brain development, Scott and Steinberg detail a model that recognizes the physiological immaturity of adolescent brains but still holds them accountable for their actions. And, following examination of harsh laws, such as California's Proposition 21, the authors argue that a developmental model for juvenile justice promises better returns for public safety and cost when compared to the ineffective system currently in place. Bush, Vanessa. From: Syndetics Solutions, Inc.
After decades of reading about juvenile "predators" and life sentences imposed on 15-year-old murderers, the public sentiment is swinging away from a policy of zero tolerance for young lawbreakers, according to Scott and Steinberg. The authors combine their legal and psychology backgrounds to offer a new approach to juvenile justice, based on their exploration of research not available when the punitive laws now in effect were enacted and on their review of current legal standards. They advocate a developmental model under which adolescents are treated somewhere between juveniles and adults. They offer a historical perspective, ranging from the progressive era with its emphasis on rehabilitation to the "moral panic" of the 1980s that emphasized punishment. Citing research on brain development, Scott and Steinberg detail a model that recognizes the physiological immaturity of adolescent brains but still holds them accountable for their actions. And, following examination of harsh laws, such as California's Proposition 21, the authors argue that a developmental model for juvenile justice promises better returns for public safety and cost when compared to the ineffective system currently in place. Bush, Vanessa. From: Syndetics Solutions, Inc.
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