Our nation’s focus on crime has made a gradual shift away from drugs to what many perceive to be the major
problem facing our criminal justice system today: juvenile crime, especially violent crime. Terms such as
“superpredator” have been used to describe a class of violent juvenile offenders who prey on society.
Depending on the severity of the crime and the age of the juvenile, many states allow prosecutors the flexibility
of transferring juveniles to the adult court system. Respond to the following questions, and support your
positions using credible research:
Research 3 state- or federal-level court cases regarding the transfer of juveniles to the adult court system.
Address the following in 1,250–1,750 words:
For each case, briefly describe the details of the case and the court’s decision.
Generally speaking, how do courts and their decisions impact criminal justice policy decisions? Explain.
How have your selected court cases (and similar cases) and their rulings impacted public policy decisions
regarding juveniles in the criminal justice system? Explain in detail.
What significant challenges do correctional officials face in housing juveniles who have been tried and
convicted as adults? Explain.
What selection criteria are used in making a determination as to whether to transfer a juvenile case to the
criminal court? Explain.
Do you believe that waiver of 13- and 14-year-olds from juvenile to adult court, in general, is a good idea? Why
or why not? Explain.
Sample Solution
