Choose a historical event that happened and the impact it had on contemporary juvenile justice in the United States. Further clarify what you believe the long-term effect of these events will be on the system? The purpose of this assignment will give you the opportunity to apply the Learn material in a meaningful summary application. Your summary discusses a historical event that has had an impact on the contemporary juvenile justice system in the United States. What do you think the long-term effects of these events will be on the system?
Sample Answer
A pivotal turning point in the trajectory of the United States juvenile justice system is the Supreme Court’s 1967 ruling in In re Gault. This single historical event shifted the entire philosophy of the system from a purely informal, parental model to a more formalized, due-process-oriented legal structure.A pivotal turning point in the trajectory of the United States juvenile justice system is the Supreme Court’s 1967 ruling in In re Gault. This single historical event shifted the entire philosophy of the system from a purely informal, parental model to a more formalized, due-process-oriented legal structure.
Historical Context: The Pre-Gault Era
Prior to 1967, the juvenile court operated under the doctrine of parens patriae ("the state as parent"). The idea was that children should not be treated as criminals but as wayward youths in need of guidance. Because the court’s intent was "rehabilitation" rather than "punishment," many of the constitutional rights afforded to adults—such as the right to an attorney or the right to remain silent—were stripped away in juvenile proceedings.
Gerald Gault, a 15-year-old, was sentenced to six years in a state industrial school for making an allegedly lewd phone call—an offense that would have resulted in a maximum fine of $50 or two months in jail for an adult.