The duality of juvenile justice in the United States: History, trends, and prospects

Abstract

Juvenile justice in America was formulated from the dual philosophies of punishment and treatment. The duality is still evident and is manifested in both increased legalization of the juvenile court and the use of diversion from the court. The punitive societal attitude toward juveniles, now prevalent, is predicted to change, partly in response to an expected decline in delinquency over the next several years and to a public awareness of the economic costs of a punitive policy. Generally, moreover, the system and societal response are seen as gradually moving in the direction of treatment for juvenile delinquency.