Essay Sample on Justice and Injustice

The line between justice and injustice is fine.  It is a line that is often discussed, yet rarely ever agreed upon.  When it comes to justice many factors must be taken into account.  To declare something fair is challenging enough without bringing personal bias into your statement. To expect fairness in a world that is not fair is quite frankly illogical. The idea of justice depends upon the thinking that everyone is given an equal advantage, but in reality, this thinking could not be further from the truth.  The fact of the matter is that the world is not fair.  It is filled with unfair advantages and unequal opportunities.  Life is simply much more difficult for some as compared to others.

An important topic when it comes to the issue of determining what is fair and what is not is the topic of criminal justice as it relates to youth.  The very basis of someone’s being can be tied to their childhood.  A child is in the most critical stage of life, and it is important to acknowledge this as they are faced with the consequences of their juvenile actions.  This never-ending debate may not have an answer that is set in stone, but perhaps has a different answer for each situation.  Children are our future, yet they cannot begin to imagine their future.  The question in place remains, should juveniles be tried as adults in a world where they may have been set up for failure?  I hold a strong position that juveniles deserve a second chance at creating a better life for themselves.  To do this they need a system that is specialized for their needs.       

To fully understand the benefits of giving juveniles a chance to grow from their mistakes, by allowing them a specialized system that will cater to their needs, it is important to acknowledge the reasons that many people feel they should be given the same treatment as adults.  A good amount of people believe that eliminating the differences in trying a juvenile as compared to an adult will lower the number of juvenile crimes.  This thinking is due to the idea that by not punishing as harshly they are insinuating the idea that they can do it again without the severity of being punished as an adult.  Although I understand the logic behind this thinking I believe the reality could not be further from the truth.  Some also believe that maintaining two separate criminal justice systems is far more difficult with fewer benefits as compared to only having one criminal justice system.  Instead of having juveniles tried in a separate court, many feel they should be tried in the same court and given adaptations when proven necessary.  Although in theory, this scenario may sound appropriate I believe that the adaptations needed to truly bring justice are far too advanced and deserve their system.    

One reason I believe a juvenile court is particularly beneficial is although there are still areas left for more to be desired, there are programs related that offer additional opportunities for the juveniles to learn from their mistakes.  Such programs include the Colorados youth offender system.  They call it giving kids a “second last chance”.  Programs such as the YOS are extremely important as it relates to juvenile delinquency because often the children in these situations were never given the tools to set themselves up for a crime-free life.  Many of the reasons people believe in programs such as the YOS are the very reasons people believe in juvenile courts.  If juveniles were to be placed in the same prisons adults were in they would be subject to abuse, and targeted, without a doubt.  The juvenile court and programs that are designed for kids in the juvenile court in mind allow for the special treatment that is necessary when dealing with the futures of children.  

The final topic that is important to bring into account is the use of teen courts.  Like juvenile courts, teen courts are a specific system for juvenile offenders.  Statistics show that only 25% of juveniles sentenced to be in teen court repeated their offenses.  While the reduction of crime rates of juveniles is a top priority when it comes to teen courts, there are other benefits as well.  It allows the juveniles to feel more comfortable when dealing with their uncomfortable mistakes.  

In conclusion, although the true meaning of justice may never be absolved.  Giving juveniles a fighting chance at making up for their mistakes is a step in the right direction.  While the debate may never have an answer that truly resolves the issue at hand, giving juveniles the chance to become model citizens is an opportunity that is more than worthwhile.  Through the variety of programs and systems specific to juveniles as they face the harsh reality of the world, more good will come.  

Work cited

Feld, Barry C. "Abolish the juvenile court: youthfulness, criminal responsibility, and sentencing policy." Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology, vol. 88, no. 1, fall 1997, pp. 68-136. Gale Academic OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A20840465/AONE?u=nysl_li_schhs&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=38ba863c. Accessed 23 Apr. 2022.

"Teen juries: are they fair?" Current Events, a Weekly Reader publication, vol. 96, no. 11, 18 Nov. 1996, p. 3. Gale Academic OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A18916898/AONE?u=nysl_li_schhs&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=c461989c. Accessed 8 Apr. 2022.

Dallao, Mary. "Colorado's Youth Offender System offers juveniles a 'second last chance.'." Corrections Today, vol. 58, no. 5, Aug. 1996, pp. 66+. Gale Academic OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A18631873/AONE?u=nysl_li_schhs&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=9e10fc8e. Accessed 5 Apr. 2022.