Not all juvenile crimes are created equal; some are more serious than others. That’s why, sometimes, juvenile cases get transferred to adult courts. This happens when the juvenile is charged with a serious crime, or if they’ve had multiple arrests in the past.
The advantages
Firstly, juvenile offenders who get tried as adults are more likely to receive harsher punishments if they’re convicted. This may act as a deterrent to future juvenile crimes, as the offenders will know that they could go to an adult prison if they re-offend.
In addition, many juvenile offenders are often old enough to commit serious premeditated crimes, which means that it may be appropriate to try them as adults.
Last but not least, getting convicted as adult offenders means that juveniles get to access certain services and programs that they wouldn’t be able to if they got tried in juvenile courts, such as vocational training.
The disadvantages
One of the main disadvantages is that adult courts don’t really consider the age of juveniles when they’re making decisions. This means that juvenile offenders might not get the leniency or understanding that they would get in juvenile court.
In addition, adult prisons come with certain risks and dangers, such as getting exposed to hardened criminals. This could have a negative impact on the juvenile, and may even lead to them becoming more criminally inclined.
Last but not least, once a juvenile gets tried as an adult, their records are open to the public. This might make it difficult for them to find employment or housing in the future.
So, there are both advantages and disadvantages to juvenile offenders getting tried in adult courts. However, it’s important to understand the issues that juveniles would face in adult court before subjecting them to the process.