Juvenile Rights Period

Juvenile Rights Period (1960–1980) The Juvenile Rights Period emerged at a time when there was a great deal of social change and unrest in the United States. The 1960s ushered in a movement focused on the rights of individuals. Many people began to question the reach of the juvenile court and whether the parens patria model truly benefited the juvenile. People became increasingly concerned about whether the system (both adult and juvenile) violated the rights of the accused. First, there was apprehension over whether the system’s reach extended too far. In particular, sta- tus offenders, dependent and neglect cases, and criminals were still processed through the same mechanisms in the court system. Second, youth were being processed through the court system without the due process afforded to adults. Finally, there was concern that the sys- tem’s response to serious juvenile delinquents was inadequate. This section examines each of these issues in detail.