U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.
        Here's how you know
      Here's how you know**Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
      **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** (
            A locked padlock
            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Menu

      
        close

            
            
                                              About NIJ
        
                    
  
          About NIJ
      
    
          The NIJ Director
          How NIJ Is Organized
          Mission and Guiding Principles
          Research and Development Process
          Strategic Framework
          Assessments of NIJ
          Annual Reports & Reports to Congress
          Staff Directory
          Funding & Awards
        
                    
  
          Funding & Awards
      
    
          Current Funding
          Forthcoming Funding
          Expired Funding
          Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
          Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
          Fellowship & Student Programs
          Travel Scholarships
          NIJ Challenge Program
          Library & Multimedia
        
                    
  
          Library & Multimedia
      
    
          NIJ Journal
          Podcasts
          Publications Listing
          Multimedia Listing
          Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
          Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
          Software & Databases
          Datasets
          Patents
          Topics
        
                    
  
          Topics
      
    
          Article Listing
          Corrections
          Courts
          Crime Prevention
          Crimes
          Drugs and Crime
          Equipment and Technology
          Forensic Sciences
          Youth Justice
          Justice System Reform
          Law Enforcement
          Tribal Crime and Justice
          Victims of Crime
          Events
        
                    
  
          Events
      
    
          NIJ 2024 Research Conference
          Scheduled Events
          On-Demand Events
          Research Meetings & Workshops
          NIJ-Hosted Online Training

                            
                                About
          Contact Us
          Subscribe
          Topics A-Z
                  Share
FacebookXLinkedInRedditPinterestEmail Home
                            Library & Multimedia
 Prosecuting Adolescents in Criminal Courts: Criminal or Juvenile Justice?
NCJ Number
              202275
Journal

*Social Problems* Volume: 50 Issue: 3 Dated: August 2003 Pages: 439-460
Author(s)
          Aaron Kupchik
Date Published

August 2003
Length
              22 pages
Annotation
              This study analyzed how court actors mobilize models of justice to shape the court proceedings when adolescents are prosecuted in adult criminal court.
Abstract
              During the past 20 years, States have revised their laws to facilitate the transfer of adolescents out of juvenile courts and into adult criminal courts. However, when adolescents are prosecuted in adult criminal courts, there is a potential tension between the juvenile model of justice, which rests on a rehabilitative format, and the criminal model of justice, which focuses on punishment in proportion to the offense. Despite the increasing frequency of the transfer of adolescents to adult criminal court, little is known about how court actors prescribe accountability to adolescents in these adult courts. As such, the author drew on observational research in a specialized criminal court that prosecutes adolescents and on interviews with courtroom decisionmakers to analyze how this incongruity of justice models is overcome. The analysis revealed that courtroom actors divide the court proceedings into two phases: the initial phase follows the traditional criminal justice model while the sentencing phase follows the juvenile justice model. In this way, a hybrid form of justice is created that relies on a sequential justice model to prosecute adolescents in adult criminal court. This study produced unique results in that the author argued that the model of justice followed in these types of cases is dependent upon the stage of case processing. The results falsify the repeated hypothesis that adolescents who are transferred to adult criminal court face a criminal model of justice. Future research should expand this line of inquiry to different jurisdictions. References
      
  
          Additional Details
Grant Number(s)
        2001-IJ-CX-0005
                                SES-0004334


  
  
        
  Agencies
        NIJ-Sponsored


  
  
        
  Publication Type
        Report (Study/Research)
    
  
  
Date Published: August 1, 2003
    
          Downloads
        
                      HTML

Related Datasets
        
                      http://dx.doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR03976
Side navigation
  

        

  
  
              NIJ Journal
    
      
            
            
            
      Podcasts
    
      
            
            
            
      Publications Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Multimedia Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Software & Databases
    
      
            
            
            
      Datasets
    
      
            
            
            
      PatentsRelated Topics
        
                Court Procedures
        Court studies
        Criminal justice ideologies
        Juvenile justice policies
        Courts



  
Similar Publications
        
                      Near-infrared Excitation Raman Analysis of Underlying Colorants on Redyed Fabric
                  Identifying COVID-19 Policies and Practice that Juvenile Justice Systems Should Maintain Long-Term: Listening Session 3: State Juvenile Justice Agency Administrators
                  Identifying COVID-19 Policies and Practice that Juvenile Justice Systems Should Maintain Long-Term: Listening Session 2: Juvenile Justice Defenders
 Top

      National Institute of Justice

        
        
                        About NIJ
                    About NIJ
      
    
                  How NIJ Is Organized
      
    
                  NIJ Director
      
    
                  Research Disclaimer
      
    
                  Funding & Awards
                    Funding & Awards Home
      
    
                  Awards Listing
      
    
                  Current Funding
      
    
                  Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
      
    
                  Resources
                    Events
      
    
                  Podcasts
      
    
                  Publications
      
    
                  Topics
      
    
                  Multimedia
      
    
                  Reuse Policy
      
    
                  Contacts
                    Contact NIJ
      
    
                  Staff Directory
      
    
                  Submit a FOIA Request
      
    
                  File a Civil Rights ComplaintFacebook
          
                      X
          
                      YouTube
  

      810 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20531
      
              Secondary Footer link menu
            Accessibility
              Plain Language
              Privacy Policy
              Legal Policies and Disclaimer
              No FEAR Act
              Freedom of Information Act
              USA.gov
              Justice.gov