How has juvenile justice changed since the 1970s?

In the 1970s, juvenile justice focused mainly on rehabilitation, using education and treatment to help young offenders become productive members of society. However, over the years, the system has shifted toward providing more accountability for juveniles. Here in Virginia, the Juvenile Justice Act of 1985 increased penalties and improved the accountability of juvenile offenders. This included implementing harsher punishments for repeat offenders, allowing for juveniles to be tried as adults for certain offenses, and increasing the use of probation for offenders. Additionally, changes in the juvenile justice system have created more opportunities for juveniles to receive alternative sentencing. Today, more juvenile offenders are receiving drug treatment, counseling, and other programs instead of incarceration. This allows them to receive the necessary help they need to turn their lives around while avoiding the stigma of being labeled a criminal. Technology has also played an important role in shaping our juvenile justice system. With the development of body cameras and cameras in courtrooms, the effect of loopholes in the system have been reduced, resulting in greater accountability for juvenile offenders. Additionally, social media has also made it possible for law enforcement and prosecutors to swiftly identify, track, and charge juveniles who commit serious crimes. Overall, the juvenile justice system has undergone dramatic changes since the 1970s. It has shifted from a system focused on rehabilitation to one that emphasizes accountability. Along with providing harsher punishments to repeat offenders, alternative sentencing is becoming more commonplace, and technology has changed the way law enforcement and prosecutors can track, identify, and prosecute juvenile offenders.

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How has juvenile justice changed since the 1970s?

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