Prosecutors have adopted a primarily rehabilitation-oriented approach to juvenile justice, while still seeing the need for punishment and incapacitation. Novel initiatives, such as pretrial diversion, collaboration with other institutions, and the adoption of risk assessment instruments, have made them more effective in ensuring public safety. Prosecutors further illustrate the contribution that mental illness and substance abuse issues play in the juvenile justice system.
Criminal Justice
Remembering the ‘why’ behind Raise the Age in North Carolina
At what age should juvenile offenders be tried and treated as adults in North Carolina? What constitutes a juvenile’s actions so irredeemable that they bypass the juvenile system and go straight into adult corrections? As times change and public safety evolves, it is important to reflect on the principles that guide our justice system. One...
April 3, 2024