The Return of Reason: Contemporary Juvenile Justice

Juvenile justice systems have existed in the United States since 1899. Significant transformation of juvenile justice philosophy, policy, and practice began in the 1960s. In this talk, I will discuss key changes in juvenile justice in the past five decades. These changes include the “due process revolution” in the 1960s and 1970s, as well as the shift toward initiatives for juvenile punishment and accountability in the “get tough” era beginning in the 1980s.  I will also discuss more recent reforms that signal the return of the rehabilitative ideal for juveniles.  These reforms are based on evidence-based practice and contemporary research on adolescent development.