Juvenile Transfer and Deterrence: Reexamining the Effectiveness of a 'Get-Tough' Policy

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Juvenile Transfer and Deterrence: Reexamining the Effectiveness of a 'Get-Tough' Policy
Language: English
Authors: Jordan, Kareem L., Myers, David L.
Source: Crime & Delinquency. Mar 2011 57(2):247-270.
Availability: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: http://sagepub.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 24
Publication Date: 2011
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Evaluative
Descriptors: Juvenile Courts, Juvenile Justice, Punishment, Recidivism, Court Litigation, Violence, Aggression, Delinquency, Correctional Institutions, Institutionalized Persons, Age Differences, Racial Differences, Gender Differences, Weapons, Courts
Geographic Terms: Pennsylvania
DOI: 10.1177/0011128708319111
ISSN: 0011-1287
Abstract: Although research has examined the effectiveness of juvenile transfer on recidivism, there has been a lack of research done in assessing how well juvenile waiver to adult court meets the criteria necessary for deterrence to occur (i.e., certainty, severity, and swiftness of punishment). The purpose of this study is to assess how well juvenile transfer meets these criteria, using data on 345 youths legislatively waived to adult court in Pennsylvania. The findings indicate that there is greater punishment severity in adult court, but there is no difference in punishment certainty between the two court systems. In addition, court processing occurred more quickly in juvenile court. In other words, only one element of deterrence theory is achieved with juvenile transfer. Implications for subsequent research and policy are discussed. (Contains 9 notes and 7 tables.)
Abstractor: As Provided
Number of References: 54
Entry Date: 2011
Accession Number: EJ917544
Database: ERIC
Description
Abstract:Although research has examined the effectiveness of juvenile transfer on recidivism, there has been a lack of research done in assessing how well juvenile waiver to adult court meets the criteria necessary for deterrence to occur (i.e., certainty, severity, and swiftness of punishment). The purpose of this study is to assess how well juvenile transfer meets these criteria, using data on 345 youths legislatively waived to adult court in Pennsylvania. The findings indicate that there is greater punishment severity in adult court, but there is no difference in punishment certainty between the two court systems. In addition, court processing occurred more quickly in juvenile court. In other words, only one element of deterrence theory is achieved with juvenile transfer. Implications for subsequent research and policy are discussed. (Contains 9 notes and 7 tables.)
ISSN:0011-1287
DOI:10.1177/0011128708319111