According to U.S Department of Justice (1994-1996), several states have, or will be, revamping their juvenile justice system to better address juvenile crime issues. In response to increased juvenile crime, particularly violent crime, several states have enacted new programs and laws that place a greater emphasis on public safety, and imposes tougher sentences for violent juvenile crime. In addition to passage of proposition 21, California is recognized as a leader in developing and implementing gang initiatives that pool the resources of state, local, and federal agencies in a combined effort to fight crime.

An estimated 150,000 members belong to the various 1,000 gang factions in the Los Angeles area. According to Newton (1992), gang related murders accounted for forty percent of the homicides in

Tehachapi, California currently houses 98 violent children in its prison. These children are doing adult time for their crimes along side more than 5,000 adult male felons. Their crimes include murder, rape, robbery and various other serious offenses. It appears that the courts that sent them there believe that they are hardened criminals, beyond rehabilitation--even though not one of them has reached the age of maturity. (http://www.childrennow.org/newsroon/news-01/ra-7-15-01.html)

Under Penal Code Section 186.22(b)(4), the following offenses are punishable by life terms: -Gang Home Invasion Robbery.

In Rhode Island, A Federal and State task force conducted an investigation into the “Latin Kings” gang, resulting in an eighteen-count indictment against eleven Latin Kings (U.S. Department of Justice, 1994-1996).

As a result of the increasing severity of juvenile crime, California, as well as many other states, is moving away from the traditional rehabilitative efforts the juvenile justice system was designed after, and more towards a punitive juvenile system. Proposition 21 establishes tough new sentencing guidelines that can send youthful offenders as young as fourteen to adult prisons.

Some topics in this essay:
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