Abstract
This chapter describes the legal processes experienced by youth involved in the juvenile or criminal courts of the United States. The first part of the chapter traces the history of the U.S. juvenile justice system from its origination in the Progressive Era through to the present day, emphasizing system changes that have been important for social science research on the legal system. It then describes modern processes in both juvenile and criminal courts, highlighting differences between the two systems. Next, the chapter explores research and scholarship related to youth adjudicatory hearings and trials, youth plea bargaining, and outcomes for youth involved in the legal system. The chapter concludes with a brief summary and suggestions for future research.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | The Oxford Handbook of Developmental Psychology and the Law |
Publisher | Oxford University Press |
Pages | 279-301 |
Number of pages | 23 |
ISBN (Electronic) | 9780197549544 |
ISBN (Print) | 9780197549513 |
State | Published - 18 Dec 2023 |
Keywords
- Adolescence
- Adolescent legal competencies
- Criminal courts
- Criminal legal system
- Juvenile courts
- Juvenile detention
- Juvenile justice
- Juvenile law
- Juvenile legal system
- Juvenile sentencing
- Youth