Schiraldi's and Ziedenberg's conclusions will not encourage those who believe harsh penalties reduce crime. Using almost any measure, they find that the system of prosecutorial waiver fails to prevent crime, harms children, and turns nonviolent offenders, the bulk of those transferred pursuant to the Florida laws, into more frequent and more violent offenders. Reading their finding one can only make one wonder why such laws remain popular. Moreover, the ease with which children can be moved into the adult court hides the difficulties that arise once the children are there. Young describes how, at every critical point of the adult criminal process, children are ill-equipped to defend themselves or be defended even by competent and conscientious counsel.
Children are no match for the adults.
Moreover, judges, juries, and correctional personnel often do not know how to balance the youth of the offender with the seriousness of the crime when doing their jobs. The issues confronting society regarding crimes committed by youth are serious and complex and take an enormous toll on victims, perpetrators, and the professionals engaged in this work. For 100 years, juvenile courts have served the nation. Like all institutions, the court has had its successes and failures. But 100 has not changed the essential fact that no matter what crime is committed, children and adolescents are not adults.