Fiddling at the Edges: The Quest for Effective Young Adult Justice Policies

• In Event: Policy-Implications of DLC Research 2: The Life-Course Consequences of Criminal Justice Policy

Abstract

For over a century, policymakers have repeatedly turned to the boundary between juvenile and adult jurisdictions as a lever to improve adolescent and young adult outcomes. Whether raising the age of juvenile court jurisdiction, lowering the threshold for adult transfer, or creating “third-way” young adult classifications, these boundary shifts have proven durably popular. However, the empirical record for boundary reform remains surprisingly inconclusive. Many studies report no discernible impacts of these policies on motivating problems. And when discernible impacts are detected, these range from highly positive to highly negative. In this paper we explore the accumulated evidence on the effectiveness of boundary reform, the possibilities for future boundary changes, and the opportunities for empirical research. We conclude by arguing that boundary reform to date has consistently over-promised and under-delivered contributing to “boom-bust” cycles for the jurisdiction of the juvenile justice system.

Author

• Charles Loeffler, University of Pennsylvania