Week 10 Discussion 1 - JUVENILE D.

The current trend today is to hold juveniles more accountable for the crimes they commit. What do you consider are the top three challenges to the juvenile justice system today? How do factors such as technology, the current economic downturn and decreasing school and government budgets affect the juvenile system?

The top three challenges to the juvenile justice system today would probably be the mounting evidence reflecting that community based practices are more effective than large correctional facilities. Upward spurts of acts of criminality by juveniles, overcrowded sections reflect danger for juveniles and funding issues. Further the inability to meet federal standards are unable to be met and renders the juvenile system inability to accommodate juvenile too dangerous to be placed in the juvenile system and must be processed in the adult criminal system.

Factors such as technology affect the current economic downturn and decreases school and government budgets by causing a decrease in funding available due to economic stress. If the school and government budgets are reduced this will cause a deflection of funds away from the juvenile system and cause more juveniles to be processed in the adult system. New technology also will allow the increase of apprehending, processing and sentencing of juveniles and allow more proficient and accurate records to be kept.