Deterring Juvenile Crime: Age of Jurisdiction

摘要

The deterrent effect of being legally defined as an adult rather than a juvenile on the incidence of crime among 16- and 17-year olds was studied. The data reflect the practice of the Justice system of taking age into account in determining formally processing 16- and 17-year olds, being less strict with 16-year olds. The practice is apparently known to 16-year-olds, so they are not deterred from committing even felonies by the spectre of criminal prosecution. Seventeen year olds are not so well aware of more lenient treatment because it is less widely practiced and cannot be counted on so well, so adult 17s actually are deterred from crime by their legal status.