Legal Issues

The juvenile courts have jurisdiction over delinquent youths who fall under certain age limits with the age 18 being the highest in most of the states. These courts are also bestowed with jurisdiction over unlawful conduct directed at juveniles such as parental neglect, abandonment, deprivation, as ell as abuse (Roberts, 2004). Therefore the abolishment of juvenile courts would mean that juvenile offenders are tried in adult criminal courts, and thus this would compromise the basic ideal of the juvenile courts role as a social welfare institution whose main objective is to rehabilitate juvenile offenders. Fairness and justice in trials of juveniles would be compromised (Feld, 1997). Still to note is the fact that the youths would be exposed to the possibilities of stiffer penalties such as capital punishments for crimes they committed as juveniles. It is important to note here that the adult courts have no proper structures and establishments to transform the character of juvenile offenders who may be forced to be with the adults and become hardened criminals (Feld, 1997).

Abolishing juvenile courts would put their jurisdiction as custodians of children rights into jeopardy. It is here to be noted that juvenile courts have the proper structures to offer protection over children whose rights have been violated or denied rights in the society (Roberts, 2004). For instance, parental neglect and child abuse cases are better addressed in juvenile courts. Therefore, abolishing these courts would mean high rates of violation of children rights, which in many cases translates into high rates of delinquent youths in the society, especially in cases of child neglect (Feld, 1997). These would contribute to high rates of crimes in the society.

It is the responsibility of the juvenile courts to transform the character of juvenile offenders. Therefore, the abolishment of the juvenile courts will impact negatively on the character of the juveniles and the security of the entire society.