title: Setting a minimum age for juvenile justice jurisdiction in California.
abstract: Purpose Despite the existence of minimum age laws for juvenile justice jurisdiction in 18 US states, California has no explicit law that protects children (i.e. youth less than 12 years old) from being processed in the juvenile justice system. In the absence of a minimum age law, California lags behind other states and international practice and standards. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach In this policy brief, academics across the University of California campuses examine current evidence, theory, and policy related to the minimum age of juvenile justice jurisdiction. Findings Existing evidence suggests that children lack the cognitive maturity to comprehend or benefit from formal juvenile justice processing, and diverting children from the system altogether is likely to be more beneficial for the child and for public safety. Research limitations/implications Based on current evidence and theory, the authors argue that minimum age legislation that protects children from contact with the juvenile justice system and treats them as children in need of services and support, rather than as delinquents or criminals, is an important policy goal for California and for other national and international jurisdictions lacking a minimum age law. Originality/value California has no law specifying a minimum age for juvenile justice jurisdiction, meaning that young children of any age can be processed in the juvenile justice system. This policy brief provides a rationale for a minimum age law in California and other states and jurisdictions without one.
authors.affiliation: Juvenile Justice Working Group, University of California Criminal Justice and Health Consortium , California, USA.|Department of Pediatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California , Los Angeles, California, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: S Barnert
authors.affiliation: Juvenile Justice Working Group, University of California Criminal Justice and Health Consortium , California, USA.|Department of Social Welfare, Luskin School of Public Affairs, University of California , Los Angeles, California, USA.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: S Abrams
authors.affiliation: Juvenile Justice Working Group, University of California Criminal Justice and Health Consortium , California, USA.|Department of Criminology, Law and Society, Irvine School of Social Ecology, University of California , Irvine, California, USA.
authors.forename: Cheryl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Maxson
authors.affiliation: Juvenile Justice Working Group, University of California Criminal Justice and Health Consortium , California, USA.|Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Division of Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention, Los Angeles, California, USA.
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gase
authors.affiliation: Children's Defense Fund-California, California, USA.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Soung
authors.affiliation: Juvenile Justice Working Group, University of California Criminal Justice and Health Consortium , California, USA.|Department of Psychology, University of California , Merced, California, USA.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Carroll
authors.affiliation: Juvenile Justice Working Group, University of California Criminal Justice and Health Consortium , California, USA.|Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California , Los Angeles, California, USA.
authors.forename: Eraka
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bath
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002140:California; D002648:Child; D002651:Child Advocacy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003416:Criminal Law / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D005260:Female; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D035846:Law Enforcement; D008297:Male; D010552:Personality Assessment; D011640:Public Policy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*
keywords: Criminal justice system; Health policy; Human rights; Juvenile offenders; Public health; Young offenders