Juveniles should be tried as adults when committing major felony Research Paper

Juveniles should be tried as adults when committing major felony crimes - Research Paper Example Trying juvenile delinquents as adults for major felony offenses is a response to this distinct category of juvenile offenses. As a sound solution, trying juveniles as adults is a process with legal basis. Moreover, the juvenile justice system is not equipped to handle cases of juvenile felony crimes. In addition, protocols and standards of practice in place ensure the proper handling of juvenile delinquency cases transferred to the criminal justice system by considering the distinct psychosocial characteristics of juveniles. Keywords: waiver, transfer, major felony crimes, juvenile delinquency, juvenile court, criminal court, psychosocial characteristics Juveniles Should Be Tried As Adults When Committing Major Felony Crimes Debate over trying juveniles as adults for committing major felony crimes persists. Those who oppose the treatment of juvenile felony offenders as adults assert the differences in the psychosocial characteristics of juveniles and adults as a justification for tre ating juvenile offenders distinctly from adults as well as the harshness of imposing penalties on juveniles similar to those imposed on adults. Proponents of treating juvenile felony offenders as adults cite the need to firmly address the alarming statistics on serious crimes committed by juveniles and the graveness of the violence involved in these crimes through legal protocols and standards. Both sides offer valid arguments. However, there are valid reasons that justified the enactment of laws and development of policies allowing for the treatment of juvenile felony offenders as adults. Violent crimes committed by juveniles made way for the wider adoption of processes allowing juvenile felony offenders to be tried as adults (Griffin et al., 2011). Moreover, protocols are also in place to ensure that the criminal justice system properly handles the cases of juvenile felony offenders (Nunez et al., 2007). Standards of practice also continuously evolve with developments in laws and jurisprudence that govern the process of transferring delinquency cases to the criminal courts (Keller, 2012). With these in mind, juveniles should be tried as adults when committing major felony crimes within a system of legal protocols and governing standards. Supporting the treatment of juvenile felony offenders as adults is not akin to saying that the system is the absolute solution to juvenile delinquency. Despite developments in recent years, the process of trying juvenile felony offenders as adults remains imperfect. However, it is a developing system. Future developments in legislation, jurisprudence and best practices are likely to enhance the role of this system in addressing juvenile delinquency. Juveniles should not be Tried as Adults Opposition to the practice of trying juveniles as adults when they commit major felony crimes revolve around the assertion that juveniles are different from adults so juveniles should not be adjudicated in the criminal justice system meant for adults. In a study, the psychological maturity of juveniles who just reached 18 was compared with that of adults aged 25 in terms of their assumption of responsibility and foresight of the consequence of their actions. The results showed that those who just reached