M4D2: Transfer (Waiver) to Adult Court

38671This activity addresses module outcome 3. Upon completion of this activity, you will be able to:

MO3: Outline the arguments for and against the waiver of juvenile offenders to adult criminal court. (CO 2, 3)
Political and legislative efforts to Get Tough on Crime have resulted, in part, in an increased and varied array of state laws that allow, or require, the transfer of certain juvenile offenders to adult courts. In this discussion, you are to critically assess whether these laws achieve the stated goals of delinquency prevention and community safety.

Before you begin this discussion, be sure to complete the following:

Read the following:

Redding, R.E. (2010, June). Juvenile transfer laws: An effective deterrent to delinquency? [PDF file size 1.0 MB] Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Retrieved from https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/220595.pdf

View the following:

Online video:
– Boston Children’s Hospital. (2008, September 2011). The Teenage Brain, Part I. [Video file] [5 min 20 sec]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpMG7vS9pfw
– Boston Children’s Hospital. (2008, September 2011).The Teenage Brain, Part II [Video file] [6 min 27sec]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JRxwVpXFB0
– Boston Children’s Hospital. (2008, September 2011).The Teenage Brain, Part III (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.. [Video file] [8 min 2 sec]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rG7VZKl375g

Respond to the following:

1. What form of transfer (waiver) law provides the most effective deterrent to delinquency? In your response indicate the following:
– minimum age, if any for waiver;
– types of offenses for which transfer laws are applicable; and
– process (discretionary or mandatory) for invoking transfer law; if discretionary, identify the decision maker
2. To what extent does your proposal achieve the goal of community safety?

Cite specific information from the video series to support your assertions.

Reading for this Week include :

Erickson, P. E., & Erickson, S. K. (2008). Crime, punishment, and mental illness: Law and the behavioral sciences in conflict. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press.
Chapter 6: Juvenile Offenders, Development Competency, and Mental Illness.
Module notes
Wasserman, G. A., Ko, S. J., & McReynolds, L. S. (2004). Assessing the mental health status of youth in juvenile justice settings. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Retrieved from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED495782.pdf