Is the majority right?

*disclaimer: this post was not written by Steven, but by those who help him with his blog.

A democratic system is based on the principle that the voice of the majority matters the most. In practice, for law makers, it usually means that if you do not follow what the majority thinks, you will lose the next elections. You might suppose that the current legal system in the US reflects the opinions of the majority. Is that really so?

To continue on the topic of JLWOP-related publications, today we would like to recommend a report by National Council on Crime and Delinquency: Attitudes of US Voters Toward Youth Crime and the Justice System.

With more than 100 years of experience, the National Council on Crime and Delinquency is the oldest non-profit social and criminal justice research organization in the US. NCCD was originally founded to address issues of juvenile probation, juvenile courts, and family courts. It focuses on promoting legal reforms that enhance fairness and equality.

On their request, a national public opinion poll was conducted in 2007 to determine what American voters think of youth crime and the justice system.

The results may surprise many of you.

• The majority doubts that the juvenile justice system is effective.
• The majority thinks that juveniles should not be automatically sentenced in adult courts, as is currently imposed by law for certain offences.
• The majority does not believe that incarcerating youth in adult facilities is a deterring factor that prevents future criminal acts. The majority says that such practices increase the possibility of recidivism.
• The majority says that rehabilitation services will reduce crime rates and save tax dollars.
• The majority feels that the juvenile justice system is racially prejudiced.

To view the complete report, please click here:

http://www.nccdglobal.org/sites/default/files/publication_pdf/focus-voters-and-youth.pdf

How would you answer the questions NCCD asked in the poll?

Should “tough on crime” policy apply to all offenders, irrespective of their age?

Please feel free to comment. 

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