Juvenile Justice Issues

(ALTHOUGH THE FOLLOWING IS A COURSE ASSIGNMENT FOR EVERYBODY, YOU MAY
USE IT FOR A NET ASSIGNMENT ALSO:
   DUE:    Monday Aug 2
   POINTS: Up to 30

In July of 1999, the Chicago Tribune raised challenged the current
system  of juvenile justice, especially addressing the problems
of confessions. Here are a few of the articles:

          
Civil Court urged for very young criminals
Richard Devine - Fair Justice for Juveniles
Rolling the Dice in Juvenile Court
Children's Court - Back to the futures
Juv. Rights (state rep Larry McKeon
Put "justice" back in Juv. Justice (Trib' Editorial
10 year old's confession barred
          

Consider the following questions:

1) What are the problems that YOU can see in the current system of
   juvenile justice reflect in these news items?

2) Should we make the Juvenile system more like the adult system?

3) At what age should Juveniles be held fully responsible for their actions?

4) What, if anything, should be changed in the juvenile justice system?

5) How could your proposed changes be implemented?

6) What political, economic, or other obstacles might you confront in
   making your changes?

7) What are the assumptions about childhood, free will, responsibility,
   underlying the current juvenile court?

(NOTE: SOME OF THESE WILL MAKE GOOD QUESTIONS FOR THE FINAL)

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