The Criminal Child and its Potential for Change: A Presumption in Favor of Rehabilitation in...

8/12/2019 The Criminal Child and its Potential for Change: A Presumption in Favor of Rehabilitation in Sentencing Juvenile Offenders

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The Criminal Child and its Potential for

Change: A Presumption in Favor of

Rehabilitation in Sentencing Juvenile

Offenders

Prateek Shukla

I. INTRODUCTION

The Federal Juvenile and Delinquency Act (FJDA! "r#vide$ that%uvenile #&&ender$ $hall 'e tran$&erred t# a &ederal di$trict c#urt r criinal

"r#$ecuti#n a$ adult$ #nly a&ter c#n$iderin) *hether "r#$ecutin) the#&&ender i$ in the +intere$t #& %u$tice.,-The c#urt "re$idin) #ver the tran$&er

hearin) $hall c#n$ider a variety #& &act#r$ includin) +the %uvenile/$ "re$entintellectual devel#"ent and "$ych#l#)ical aturity0 the nature #& "a$ttreatent e&rt$ and the %uvenile/$ re$"#n$e t# $uch e&rt$0 1and2 theavaila'ility #& "r#)ra$ de$i)ned t# treat the %uvenile/$ 'ehavi#ral"r#'le$.,3

The$e "r#vi$i#n$ $h#* that the FJDA i$ $tructured ar#und t*#&undaental a$$u"ti#n$. Fir$t4 children *h# c#it crie$ *ill n#t 'etreated a$ har$hly a$ adult$ *h# c#it the $ae crie$. Sec#nd4 childrenare "$ych#l#)ical *#rk$5in5"r#)re$$ in that they are n#t &ully equi""ed*ith the t##l$ critical t# "ra)atic deci$i#n5akin). It i$ thi$ lattercharacteri$tic #& children that *arrant$ the very e6i$tence #& the %uvenile$y$te4 al#n) *ith it$ #*n unique $et #& $entencin) )uideline$. 7iven the

allea'ility #& the %uvenile ind4

8

it i$ critical r $#ciety t# nud)e %uvenile#&&ender$ in the ri)ht directi#n 'y akin) the a*are #& their "#tential rde#n$tratin) +)r#*th and aturity.,9

I& there i$ a )r#u" #& #&&ender$ that u$t 'e "re$ued ca"a'le #& chan)e4it i$ %uvenile #&&ender$. Thi$ i$ '#rne #ut 'y the &act that $tate$ that

"er$i$tently i"leent reha'ilitati#n "r#)ra$ r %uvenile #&&ender$ $ee a

! . !: U.S.C. ;; 9


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!-8 CRIMINAL AND CIVIL CONFINEMENT 1>#l. 3:3G9I *ill c#ncludethi$ N#te 'y "uttin) the "r#"#$ed $tatut#ry "re$u"ti#n in "er$"ective ande6"lainin) *hy it i$ de$ira'le in the )eneral $chee #& thin)$.

= . @ARJIT S. SAND@U C. EAN? @?AS?4 IPRO>IN7 JU>?NI?

JUSTIC? POE?RAD>OCAC4 DI>?RSION4 D?CRIINAIKATION 4 D?INSTITUTIONAIKATION AND DU? PROC?SS !98 (!:!0 see also R?STORATI>? JUSTIC? FOR JU>?NI?S

CONF?R?NCIN74 ?DIATIONANDCIRC?S-G< (Alli$#n #rri$ 7a'rielle a6*ell ed$.4

-#re "#tential +i"act #n #&&ender$ and t# e&&ect chan)e, in #&&ender$/ 'ehavi#r than

+c#nventi#nal %u$tice "r#ce$$e$, 1hereina&ter R?STORATI>?JUSTIC?2.G . See generall!: U.S.C. ;; 9


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-?OP?NT

A $el&5&ul&illin) "r#"hecy i$ a "$ych#l#)ical "hen#en#n *here'y a"er$#n 'e)in$ t# de&ine a r#le in $#ciety acc#rdin) t# the *ay they "erceive

$#ciety t# have la'eled the.!!

An individual/$ e#ry #& their li&ee6"erience$ #"erate$ the $ae *ay a$ a +three5track ta"e, #n *hich they$t#re $ituati#n$ they enc#untered in the "a$t4 a$ *ell a$ the re$"#n$e$ ande#ti#n$ a$$#ciated *ith th#$e $ituati#n$4 '#th their #*n and #& th#$ear#und the.!- The individual c#n$ult$ the +three5track ta"e4, #&tenre&le6ively4 *hen &aced *ith $iilar $ituati#n$ in the &uture4 there'yen$urin) a "attern #& $et re$"#n$e$ t# $iilar $ituati#n$.!3 In $h#rt4 the"r#"hecy i$ &ul&illed and the individual 'e)in$ t# live u" t# the la'el $#cietyha$ "inned #n the.!8

A""lyin) thi$ c#nce"t t# a child *h# ha$ 'een incarcerated r the &ir$ttie reveal$ the *ay $#ciety $ketche$ #ut the child/$ &uture a$ a criinal.Ehen a child i$ &aced *ith a $ituati#n t# *hich they re$"#nd 'y 'reakin)

the la* and4 c#n$equently4 i$ incarcerated4 thi$ un&ailiar %arrin) event i$$t#red #n their +three5track ta"e.,!9Their #*n e#ti#n$ likely c#n$i$t #&revul$i#n4 &ear4 in&eri#rity4 and $#e de)ree #& ra)e at 'ein) $ancti#ned in a

*ay they have never e6"erienced.!=The e#ti#n$ #& th#$e ar#und thelikely c#n$i$t #& di$a""r#'ati#n.!GThe child4 *h# "r#'a'ly $a* her$el& a$ a+'a$ically decent, "er$#n4 n#* $ee$ her$el& a$ $#ethin) uch *#r$e4$#ethin) #re akin t# a criinal.!: Incarcerati#n4 'y it$ very nature4in$till$ in the child a &eelin) #& "#*erle$$ne$$4 &urther $tren)thenin) thele)itiacy #& the +la'el, $#ciety ha$ $ta"ed.!Ehen $he &ace$ a $iilar$ituati#n in the &uture4 $he i$ #re likely t# re$"#nd in *ay$ that *ill lead

!!

. C??NS

F. BARTOAS

STUART

J. I?R

4 JU>?NI?

JUSTIC?

IN

A?RICA : (-d ed. !:0 see ROB?RT T. TAUB?R4 S?F5FUFIIN7 PROP@?C A

PRACTICA7UID?TOITSUS?IN?DUCATION!35!9 (!G (#&&erin) vari#u$ de&initi#n$ #&

the $el&5&ul&illin) "r#"hecy includin) +a &al$e de&initi#n #& the $ituati#n ev#kin) a ne*

'ehavi#r *hich ake$ the #ri)inally &al$e c#nce"ti#n c#e true., (qu#tin) ROB?RT L.

?RTON4 ONSOCIASTRUCTUR?ANDSCI?NC?!:3 (!=.!- . BARTOAS I?R4 su*ra n#te !!4 at 390seeARRJ. SI?7?

JOS?P@J. S?NNA4 JU>?NI?D?INMU?NC T@?ORPRACTIC? AE!93 (!:!.!3 . See BARTOAS I?R4su*ra n#te !!4 at 39.!8 . Id.0 see RIC@ARD J. UNDAN4 PR?>?NTION AND CONTRO OF

JU>?NI?D?INMU?NC !-= (3d ed. -


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!-= CRIMINAL AND CIVIL CONFINEMENT 1>#l. 3:3Gher 'ack t# delinquency.-?NI? JUSTIC? PUBIC POIC

TOEARDANATIONAA7?NDA8= (!-.-! . See SAND@U @?AS?4 su*ra n#te =4 at :5 (citin) re$earch

$h#*in) that $tate$ i"leentin) reha'ilitati#n "r#)ra$ $a* u" t# 9IS @IRSC@I4

CAUS?SOFD?INMU?NC!= (-?NI? OFF?ND?RS A

SOURC?BOOL !8= (Jae$ C. @#*ell et al. ed$.4 !9 (+1S2tudie$ $h#* that c#unity5

'a$ed "r#)ra$ can $erve a$ $a&e4 c#$t5e&&ective alternative$ t# incarcerati#n r any

y#uth$. ?ven the le$$ &av#ra'le $tudie$ $h#* c#unity5'a$ed "r#)ra$ t# 'e a$ e&&ective

a$ traditi#nal trainin) $ch##l$ in reducin) recidivi$., 1hereina&ter0o'ell2.-G . See SUSAN 7UARINO57@?KKI ?DEARD OU7@RAN4 BAANCIN7JU>?NI?JUSTIC?!85!= (!G.-: . BARTOAS4su*ran#te -34 at !:9.- . See Chri$t#"her @artney4 Fact Sheet/ 2outh ,nder 34 in the Adult


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-SLI(ed.4su*ra n#te 3!4 at !-95-:.33 . See SAND@U @?AS?4 su*ra n#te =4 at :5 ($tre$$in) the

i"#rtance #& av#idin) 'randin) a y#uth a$ a +*r#n)5d#er,0 see also DA>ID N.

SANDB?R74 T@?C@IDABUS?5D?INMU?NCCONN?CTIONG:4 !

C@IDR?NBT@?AE!!3 (-


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!-: CRIMINAL AND CIVIL CONFINEMENT 1>#l. 3:3Gthe$elve$ can hel" the av#id the $el&5&ul&illin) "r#"hecy &r# takin)e&&ect.3:Thi$ $entient i$ re&lected a#n) the le)al c#unity0 Att#rneyAndre* >ach$$ e"ha$ie$ the need t# vie* children *h# c#it crie$n#t a$ heartle$$ #n$ter$4 'ut a$ the re$ult #& har$h envir#nent$. 3Thu$4each child u$t 'e treated care&ully 'y '#th the %uvenile %u$tice $y$te andchild5"r#tective $y$te$ in #rder t# di$ru"t the eta#r"h#$i$ #& acriinal +*hile there/$ $till tie t# d# $#.,8. !4 8 (-adulth##d,.3 . SANDB?R74su*ra n#te 334 at !. !34 !9 (-


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!3< CRIMINAL AND CIVIL CONFINEMENT 1>#l. 3:3Gthe Act/$ "ur"#$e$ *hile kee"in) the "u'lic/$ $a&ety in ind. 9=The ?i)hthCircuit/$ deci$i#n i"lie$ that "re$cri'in) reha'ilitative ea$ure$ *#uld 'e#$t a""r#"riate r a y#un) teen %uvenile $e65#&&ender *h# *a$ al$# avicti #& a'u$e4 *hile they realied that +an !:5year5#ld intelli)ent y#un)lady, *ith $everal "a$t arre$t$ *a$ #re de$ervin) #& di$ci"line rather thanreha'ilitati#n4 and $#ciety de$erved t# 'e $a&e &r# her.9G

Other deci$i#n$ are in line *ith M.R.M. and-uvenile.9:The$e deci$i#n$$h#* that &ederal c#urt$ have 'een rece"tive t# the )uidance i"licit in theFJDA 'y dili)ently carryin) #ut *hat they "erceive it$ #verarchin) "ur"#$et# 'e.9They al$# indicate that C#n)re$$ )ave the c#urt$ 'r#ad di$creti#n t#'alance the c#"etin) intere$t$ #& $#ciety a)ain$t the #&&ender/$ need rreha'ilitati#n *hen deterinin) a $uita'le "uni$hent.=

$y$te and 'y "r#vidin) a $e"arate $y$te #& Qtreatent/ r the.,0 United State$ v. ?.L.4

8G! F. Su"". -84 3- (D. Or. !G (+1T2he 'alance u$t 'e $truck $#e*here and

$#eh#* 'et*een "r#vidin) a reha'ilitative envir#nent r y#un) #&&ender$ a$ *ell a$

"r#tectin) $#ciety &r# vi#lent and dan)er#u$ individual$ . . . .,.9 . See M.R.M.4 9!3 F.3d at :=0-uvenile4 38G F.3d at G:3.=< . See generallM.R.M.4 9!3 F.3d at :G


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G8 . United State$ v. ale Juvenile4 -:< F.3d !


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!3- CRIMINAL AND CIVIL CONFINEMENT 1>#l. 3:3Gi"#$iti#n #& an e6tended $entence #n the %uvenile #&&ender$ *h# hadc#itted i$deean#r$ a$ "unitive4 ultiately c#ncludin) that +a'$entthe 5uid *ro 5uo #& reha'ilitati#n an e6tended $entence i$ n#tc#n$tituti#nally %u$ti&ied.,G: Ehen addre$$in) *hat ty"e$ #& "uni$hent$h#uld 'e eted #ut4 the c#urt ackn#*led)ed the delicacy #& $entencin)%uvenile$ and e6"lained that the 'e$t a c#urt can d# i$ t# ake an inredand rea$#ned deci$i#n that take$ int# c#n$iderati#n the +"ertinent &act$

relatin) t# the individual de&endant.,G

ike the c#urt in Sero4 #ther c#urt$ are in a)reeent that %ud)e$ $h#uldn#t reach a $entencin) deci$i#n +&i6ed 1#n2 $entencin) "#licy 'a$ed #n thecate)#ry #& crie, the #&&ender ha$ c#itted.:


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!38 CRIMINAL AND CIVIL CONFINEMENT 1>#l. 3:3Gthat even th#u)h a %uvenile c#it$ a hein#u$ crie4 the State +cann#te6tin)ui$h hi$ li&e and hi$ "#tential t# attain a ature under$tandin) #& hi$#*n huanity4,='ut it +can e6act r&eiture #& $#e #& the #$t 'a$icli'ertie$, $uch a$ &reed#.GThu$4 a %uvenile *h# c#it$ a hein#u$ crie$h#uld certainly 'e "uni$hed4 'ut n#t t# the $ae de)ree a$ an adult *h#c#it$ the $ae crie.:

In 1raha) v. Florida4 the C#urt rever$ed the $tate c#urt/$ deci$i#na&&irin) the de&endant/$ $entence #& li&e *ith#ut "ar#le r the crie$ #&ared 'ur)lary *ith a$$ault #r 'attery and atte"ted5ared r#''ery. TheC#urt held that the "uni$hent #& li&e *ith#ut the "#$$i'ility #& "ar#le *a$di$"r#"#rti#nate t# a n#n5h#icide crie c#itted 'y a %uvenile r the$ae rea$#n$ $tated in Ro*er.!

The Su"ree C#urt/$ deci$i#n$ #& Ro*er and 1raha)*#uld lead therea$#na'le #'$erver t# 'elieve that $tate$ *#uld $hi&t the treatent #&%uvenile #&&ender$. @#*ever4 any $tate$ $h#* rearka'le dedicati#n t#the retri'uti#n the#ry #& "uni$hent4 i"leentin) uch har$her "enaltie$r %uvenile$.!

y#un) adult$. They have unique need$ and require $"ecial treatent 'y the le)al $y$te.,. . 1raha)4 !3< S. Ct. at -


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delinquency in the "a$t2 *a$ t# . . . &ind #ut *hat ade the child delinquent4 and deterine

*hat chan)e$ c#uld 'e ade t# i"r#ve the child/$ li&e. The current re$"#n$e4 h#*ever4 i$

"uni$hent and retri'uti#n4 'ecau$e any "e#"le4 "articularly "#litician$4 are tired #&

"a"erin) delinquent children.,.!.A and n#te$ :-5G and

acc#"anyin) di$cu$$i#n.!!< . SeePark4su*ra n#te 8G4 at GG.!!! . Id. at GG5:.!!- . See!: U.S.C. ;9


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!3= CRIMINAL AND CIVIL CONFINEMENT 1>#l. 3:3Ge6i$tence4 Aerican %uvenile delinquency la* i$ hi)hly &ra)ented.!!

7iven that %uvenile crie i$ "erva$ive acr#$$ the c#untry !-. CODIFIN7APR?SUPTIONINFA>OROFR?@ABIITATION

A. A Pr#"#$ed Addendu #n Sentencin) t# the Federal JuvenileDelinquency Act

C#n$iderin) the e6i$tin) $tatut#ry eleent$ and &ederal c#urt deci$i#n$4

C#n)re$$ can c#n$truct a narr#* $entencin) a""r#ach #re cu$ed #nreha'ilitati#n r %uvenile$ than *hat currently e6i$t$. On the #ne hand4 theFJDA aid$ in the "unitive "ur"#$e$ #& &ederal $entencin) "r#cedure$.@#*ever4 it *a$ created $"eci&ically t# "r#vide an +enclave, that &urther$the )#al #& reha'ilitatin) %uvenile #&&ender$.!-! In additi#n4 the Su"ree

C#urt ha$ re"eatedly e6"lained that the indi$tinct and tran$ient nature #& achild/$ ind render$ a %uvenile #&&ender le$$ cul"a'le than an adult rc#ittin) the $ae crie.!-- S#cial $cience $u""#rt$ the idea thatincarcerati#n can cau$e a child t# $ee her$el& a$ a criinal4 $ince thi$ i$ the

la'el $#ciety ha$ )iven her.!-3 On the #ther hand4 the C#urt ha$ al$#cauti#ned that "uni$hent $h#uld 'e eted #ut i& nece$$ary4 a$ l#n) a$ it i$n#t e6ce$$ive.!-8The FJDA al$# $eek$ t# "re$erve 'r#ad di$creti#n r anu'er #& act#r$ includin) the a)i$trate "re$idin) #ver initiala""earance$4 the Att#rney 7eneral4 and the c#urt$.!-9 Therere4 it i$#'vi#u$ that thi$ di$creti#n need$ t# 'e "re$erved4 'ut $h#uld 'e )uided 'ythe reha'ilitative a$"ect *ith an eye t# di$ru"tin) the %uvenile/$ +"r#ce$$ #&'ec#in) deviant.,!-=

Thi$ "r#duce$ t*# rec#endati#n$ that *ill hel" t# &urther re&ine #uranaly$i$. Fir$t4 a c#urt $h#uld at all tie$ &av#r reha'ilitati#n a$ the"re&erred c#n$equence r a %uvenile #&&ender $ince an #&&ender *ill not'ea'le t# 'ene&it &r# an #""#rtunity +t# attain a ature under$tandin) #& hi$#*n huanity.,!-GSec#nd4 the c#urt $h#uld retain it$ di$creti#n t# c#n$ider

Restorative -ustice Values4 8G @OE. .J.


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!3: CRIMINAL AND CIVIL CONFINEMENT 1>#l. 3:3Gcul"a'le than an adult c#ittin) the $ae crie.!3=The c#urt then l##k$t# the rec#rd and c#n$ider$ *hether the &actual circu$tance$ it ayc#n$ider under ; 9


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-I. CONCUSION

Ehether re&erred t# a$ a $el&5&ul&illin) "r#"hecy #r &uncti#nali$4 the"hen#en#n *here'y a child/$ ultiate ia)e #& her$el& i$ dictated al#$tc#"letely 'y the *ay #ther$ treat her i$ a $i)ni&icant "r#ce$$ in the

devel#"ent #& an adult "er$#nality.!98

It i$ ir#nic that a""arentlyaut#n##u$ huan 'ein)$ inevita'ly tread the "ath$ they think they $h#uldtake 'a$ed #n the &uture #ther$ lay #ut r the. et4 thi$ i$ e6actly *hatha""en$ *hen a child )et$ arre$ted r the &ir$t tie. She i$ already #n her*ay t# $eein) her$el& a$ a criinal and i$ livin) u" t# the la'el. It i$i"erative that c#urt$ $te" in and di$"r#ve t# the$e children the n#ti#n thatthey *ill 'e treated a$ criinal$4 a$ #$t #& the have 'een until a""earin)in c#urt.!99

O& c#ur$e4 a c#urt cann#t 'e e6"ected t# "r#vide children *h# c#itcrie$ *ith the nurturin) envir#nent the a%#rity #& the have 'eendenied4 'ut it can try. Indeed4 c#urt$ have a re$"#n$i'ility t# try4 e$"ecially)iven that children are $till devel#"in) and are likely t# re$"#nd t#

treatent that teache$ the they are de$ervin) #& an +#""#rtunity t#"artici"ate in eanin)&ul . . . activitie$,!9= in$tead #& crie$. Rec#)niin)the i"#rtance #& thi$ a'ility i$ #ne #& the "riary rea$#n$ %uvenile$ are

tried $e"arately.!9GFurther4 *hen $tate$ "ur$ue reha'ilitati#n a$ #""#$ed t#incarcerati#n4 the re$ult$ $ee t# "r#vide a uch #re h#"e&ul "icture r'#th the "u'lic and the children *h# la$h #ut a)ain$t it.!9:Thu$4 *hile thec#urt$ have the re$"#n$i'ility t# try t# reha'ilitate children4 they can #nlyd# $# t# the de)ree $tatute$ all#* the.

A &ederal $tatut#ry "re$u"ti#n in &av#r #& reha'ilitati#n *ill $end a&ir e$$a)e t# la*aker$ acr#$$ the nati#n that *hile the le)i$lature andc#urt$ are certainly "re"ared t# "r#tect the "u'lic4 they *ill al*ay$ a$$uechildren *h# enter the $y$te *ill re$"#nd t# "#$itive treatent. It i$ a

"re$u"ti#n that *ill h#"e&ully cau$e children *h# c#it crie$ t#receive under$tandin) a$ #""#$ed t# cen$ure. Federali$ n#t*ith$tandin)4enactin) an e6"re$$ "re$u"ti#n #n the &ederal level ay de#n$trate thatthe *el&are #& children *h# c#it crie$ i$ an i$$ue #& nati#nal4 ratherthan re)i#nal4 i"#rtance. Thi$4 in turn4 ay in&luence the $tate$ t# ll#*

!98 . See CO7NITI>?ARC@IT?CTUR?4su*ra n#te 84 at 9=8.!99 . See BORTN?R EIIAS4 su*ra n#te ?rr#r Re&erence $#urce n#t

und 4 at =:.!9= . Id.!9G . See Janet ?. Ain$*#rth4 Re7I)agining Childhood and Reconstructing

the Legal Order/ The Case +or A&olishing the -uvenile Court4 = N.C. . R?>. !


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!8- CRIMINAL AND CIVIL CONFINEMENT 1>#l. 3:3Gin C#n)re$$/ and Ne* Jer$ey/$!9 #t$te"$4 a re$ult *hich *#uld rever$ethe "arad#6ical and a))re$$ive "uni$hent5'a$ed trend$ that Su"reeC#urt deci$i#n$ in the la$t rty year$ have $"arked.!=

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