JUVENILE JUSTICE AND REFORM: A COMPREHENSIVE LOOK AT HOW THE UNITED STATES PUNISHES JUVENILES

Aaron KupchikIn the United States, the Juvenile Justice system is flawed. Despite ongoing research into how to best improve the rehabilitative methods utilized, federal legislation and aid has been delayed. The Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention act has not been reauthorized, and is eleven years overdue. Reviewing previous authorizations, and understanding the overall history of the Juvenile Justice system in the United States allows one to understand why the reauthorization is necessary. The federal government must reauthorize new legislation, and implement reforms in order to continue to better the Juvenile Justice system. Federal legislation on Juvenile Justice is important as it establishes a base standard of care, as well as provides funding for states to modernize their practices. The reforms must be based on evidence-based research, as well as being trauma-informed. These reforms should include preventative measures, such as furthering instruction for educators on sociological observations about the harms of School-to-Prison pipeline and Labeling Theory. It should also include the eradication of exceptions that allow for status offenders to be incarcerated. Juvenile offenders have the best chance to at aging out of crime, and becoming lawabiding adults, but in order to accomplish this goal the federal government should pass the legislation furthering reforms.Political Scienc