Research Paper on:
The Juvenile Justice System

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
idea is generally to give them a second chance. New research suggests that the adolescent mind is not fully developed and when young people make bad decisions, it may be  due to the fact that they are not acting with a fully developed mind. In addressing problems with the juvenile system, and looking for solutions, it pays to examine the  status quo. A study was done where interviews were conducted with people involved in juvenile justice. Parents and prison administrators were interviewed. Some parents saw family support groups as  helpful but there were few positive comments made by family members (Brookins & Hirsch, 2002). Probation officers listed more specific positive and negative features of juvenile justice. One important thing  is that the system at least provides structure and support for the youths (Brookins & Hirsch, 2002). It is true that many young people who get into trouble with the  law do not have family support. This is not true in all cases, but generally, at the root of crime is a dysfunctional family system. Another positive point made by  officers is that the system holds the child accountable (Brookins & Hirsch, 2002). This is important because many children get away with bad behavior. Letting them go, or sanctioning them  with only community service, may be too lenient. Even so, some small gestures will lead to good results. The important point is that there is a problem with the system,  but at least it does provide some support and guidance for the youth. Hopefully, the system will have a deterrent effect in the long run. Another thing that the  system does is to provide therapy (Brookins & Hirsch, 2002). Juveniles often end up under-treated in the outside world and sometimes it is only upon incarceration where they receive some