History of the Juvenile Justice System
Compared with the centuries over which the adult criminal justice system has evolved, the juvenile justice system is of very recent origin. Juvenile justice practices and procedures developed over the course of the past 100 years, resulting in the juvenile justice system in place in the United States today.
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Juveniles Tried as Adults
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Over the course of several centuries in the Western world, and throughout the American colonial period and first century of the United States, juveniles were prosecuted in the adult criminal system.
Incarcerated as Adults
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Juveniles convicted of crimes in the adult system were also sentenced to serve time in adult prisons.
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Segretation of Juveniles
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During the early years of the 20th century, a concerted effort began to segregate juveniles from adult inmates in the correctional system.
Separate Detention Facilities
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Beginning in the 1940s in the United States, separate juvenile detention facilities were constructed across the country.
Separate Court System
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At about the time juvenile prisoners were segregated from adults, some jurisdictions created separate court systems for juveniles. All U.S. jurisdictions have separate juvenile courts today.
Unique Justice Standards
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Ultimately in mid-20th century, separate procedural standards were developed in juvenile court. Juveniles were not found guilty of a crime but were deemed to be adjudicated as juvenile offenders.
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