Juvenile Transfers to Adult Court: An Examination of the Long‐Term Outcomes of Transferred and Non‐Transferred Juveniles

Abstract

Juveniles who are transferred to adult court are more likely to recidivate than non-transferred juveniles, but limited research has examined how transfer can impact other life outcomes like attending college and employment. To examine this issue, data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (1997) were analyzed from 1998 to 2011. It was found that court involvement during adolescence does not harm educational attainment. However, prosecution of juveniles in adult court significantly impairs earning potential well into adulthood. The current study provides further evidence of the long-term harms caused by transfer and demonstrates how transfer further disrupts the desistance process.

Neighborhood Disproportion in Juvenile Justice Contact

“…Reducing neighborhood disproportion in juvenile justice involvement is an important policy goal. Justice system involvement can negatively impact youth in education, employment, psychological development, and future lawbreaking (Augustyn & Loughran, 2017;Dmitrieva et al, 2012;Gatti et al, 2009;Kirk & Sampson, 2013;Petitclerc et al, 2013;Petrosino et al, 2010;Sharlein, 2018;Taylor, 2015). Neighborhood-level disproportion in justice system involvement among youth can further erode communities' economies, family ties, youth expectations, and, contrary to what some expect, public safety (Clear, 2007;Hirschfield, 2008a;Kirk & Matsuda, 2011;Kirk & Papachristos, 2011).…”

“…Depending on the state and the charge, collateral consequences of a criminal record include employment difficulties, ineligibility for student loans, voter disenfranchisement, and ineligibility for various public benefits, including housing and food assistance (Alexander, ; Pager, ). Links between criminal court adjudication and future employment difficulties for youth have also been empirically established (Augustyn & Loughran, ; Sharlein, ; Taylor, ). To the extent that neighborhood disproportion exists in juvenile justice involvement, the consequences of a criminal record, as well as sequelae in education, employment, future lawbreaking, exposure to abuse, and psychological development, are disproportionately experienced by youth in marginalized communities.…”

Future of Youth Justice in Japan

“…Denver, 2017). Indeed, existing research on juvenile transfer shows that undergoing the adult criminal justice system rather than in the youth justice system is linked to diminished opportunities for employment as well as to reduced income (Augustyn and Loughran, 2017; Sharlein, 2018; Taylor, 2015).…”

Raising the Age

“…Unlike a juvenile court record, adult criminal records cannot be expunged. Therefore, youth who are processed within the adult court are more likely to experience stigma and limitations in their educational and employment opportunities, and evidence suggests that juvenile prosecution in adult criminal court is associated with a reduction in adult earning potential (Taylor, ).…”