delinquency myths and facts

Question 1

superpredator myth

Answer 1

started in the early ’90s
idea that there would be 30,000 more violent offenders
rooted in social control theory

Question 2

most harmful myth about juvenile delinquency

Answer 2

superpredator myth
it resulted in panic & dangerous legislation
each state has at least 1 transfer law in place

Question 3

the ‘miracle cure’ myth (3)

Answer 3

trying to ‘cure delinquency’
- scared straight programs (had a counter-effect)
- boot camps (very abusive, sometimes counter-effective)
- incarcerating youth in adult prisons (most destructive approach, made abuse worse later)

Question 4

‘juvenile court is too lenient, and transfers are necessary’

Answer 4

• juveniles have lower re-arrest rates when processed in juvenile court
• juveniles transferred to adult court serve shorter sentences

Question 5

‘sanction for juveniles are ineffective & treatment doesn’t work’

Answer 5

• treatment is the most effective intervention
• treatment works better for juveniles than adults (and studies don’t look at them as much)

Question 6

‘longer mandatory sentences reduce juvenile crime’

Answer 6

• no evidence/link between incarceration time and decreased recidivism or delinquency rates
• incarceration at a younger age increases the chance of recidivism
• those who engage in crime young will typically escalate

Question 7

ways in which myths spread

Answer 7

• myths reinforced pre-existing moral panic
• media sensationalized & offers limited coverage
• statistics were misinterpreted
• politicians had bipartisan ‘tough on crime’ approaches

Question 8

legacy of myths

Answer 8

• transfer laws
• lowered age for adult prosecution
• harsher punishments for juveniles
• increase in juvenile justice population (and increased $$)
• school-to-prison pipeline