The book, No Matter How Loud I Shout, takes an in-depth look at the juvenile court system in the state of California in the 1990s. Through a colorful narrative story the author, Edward Humes, paints of vivid picture of the how dysfunctional the system truly was. The main focus is on the various ways the system has failed many of the juveniles that it is intended to help. Peggy Beckstrand, the Deputy District Attorney, says it best “The first thing you learn about this place, is that nothing works.” (No Matter How Loud I Shout, 1996, p.31) The one beacon of hope the juvenile court has is Judge Roosevelt Dorn. Judge Dorn is known in the court systems as one of the toughest judges. He was known for harsh sentences and often trying children in the adult courts. However, Judge Dorn may seem cruel he is merely doing what he feels is best for the child. He sees the same cases and scenarios day in and day out. He knows that stability is the thing these kids need most. Through the eyes of the juveniles, they feel that they are a product of the states neglecting. Many, such as George Trevino, were shuffled from foster home to foster home. Having never received a loving and supporting home environment he was forced to turn to street gangs for a sense of community. It was no surprise that he ended up in the system early and often. For others it was the fitness laws that failed them. The fitness law states that any juvenile at or above the age of sixteen can be tried in the adult courts and sent to a federal penitentiary. However, a juvenile under the age of sixteen must be tried in the juvenile system and receive lesser punishment than those tried in the adult courts. In both instance the court fails juveniles. Too often ... ... middle of paper ... ...d time involved but in the long run keeping children out of prison and the adult system in general will save more money. This quote by Edward Humes sums it up the best, “The fundamental question Juvenile Court was designed to ask - What's the best way to deal with this individual kid? - is often lost in the process, replaced by a point system that opens the door, or locks it, depending on the qualities of the crime, not the child.” (No Matter How Loud I shout, 1996, p. 325). The courts need to focus on what is best for the child and finding punishment that fits the child not the crime. Works Cited Humes, Edward. No Matter How Loud I Shout: A Year in the Life of Juvenile Court. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1996. Vito, Gennaro F., and Clifford E. Simonsen. Juvenile justice today. 4th ed. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson/Prentice Hall, 2004. Print.
This an extremely well written and powerful book written by Edward Humes. Humes shared his thoughts, observations, and criticisms about the juvenile justice system after a “riveting ride” through the Los Angeles Juvenile Court within his book, “No Matter How Loud I Shout.” The manner in which the book is written makes it fairly easy to read, demanding your attention while allowing for a simple follow along. I feel as if the book has given me much more insight and broader knowledge of the juvenile justice system, particularly the juvenile court system of Los Angeles.
The book “No Matter How Loud I Shout” written by Edward Humes, looks at numerous major conflicts within the juvenile court system. There is a need for the juvenile system to rehabilitate the children away from their lives of crime, but it also needs to protect the public from the most violent and dangerous of its juveniles, causing one primary conflict. Further conflict arises with how the court is able to administer proper treatment or punishment and the rights of the child too due process. The final key issue is between those that call for a complete overhaul of the system, and the others who think it should just be taken apart. On both sides there is strong reasoning that supports each of their views, causing a lot of debate about the juvenile court system. Edward Humes follows the cases of seven teenagers in juvenile court, and those surrounding them.
Jenkins Jennifer “On Punishment and Teen Killers.” Juvenile Justice Information Exchange, 2 August 2011. 7 May 2014.
In Edward Humes book, No Matter How Loud I Shout, he discusses the different areas of the Juvenile Justice System, and how those areas affect delinquents who have made their way into the Los Angeles court houses. He recounts his experiences with these children in Los Angeles while they are in Juvenile Court, as well as telling their stories of before they entered the system (Humes, 2015). Furthermore, Humes recounts how these individuals moved through the court system based off their time done, and other factors. Humes relates the stories the kids have written in his class within the jailing facility, as a demonstration of the different back grounds that the children came from. They all grew up differently, and that has affected how they commit
In Chapter 1 the story setting is LA County Court, Juvenile Division. Beckstrand is talking to the author and tell him that the first thing to learn about the system in Inglewood is that nothing works. A case is beginning and the study showing that juvenile detention doesn't work is in question. In many cases it is one really doesn't who wins, or if anyone get will. This part of LA is a poverty based environment community that's really sees the wealthy. The city is divided by race and and economic status.
Jenson, Jeffrey and Howard, Matthew. "Youth Crime, Public Policy, and Practice in the Juvenile Justice System: Recent Trends and Needed Reforms." Social Work 43 (1998): 324-32
Juvenile Justice Reforms in the United States. (n.d.). Retrieved September 20, 2011, from Juvenile Transfer to Criminal Courts: http://www.ojjdp.gov
juvenile justice” (Elrod & Ryder, 2011) is to detour juvenile crimes and not be so easy on
The Juvenile Justice system, since its conception over a century ago, has been one at conflict with itself. Originally conceived as a fatherly entity intervening into the lives of the troubled urban youths, it has since been transformed into a rigid and adversarial arena restrained by the demands of personal liberty and due process. The nature of a juvenile's experience within the juvenile justice system has come almost full circle from being treated as an adult, then as an unaccountable child, now almost as an adult once more.
“Morals are inherent from birth” (Wilde). Children, like adults, should know wrong from right. A child’s upbringing does impact them a little, but it’s in their nature to know right from wrong. One may say that a child is going to become hardened after they get out of jail, but it’s also the same for adults. Kids should be treated as adults since they can commit the same crimes as adults. “The juvenile court was created to handle juvenile offenders on the basis of their youth rather than their crimes” (cliffs notes). This is unfair because they base their decisions on how old the child is. What do they think this is, school? In school, they basically teach children based on their age, not on how much they know already. The court system shouldn’t be like school.
Juvenile delinquency has a history that dates back hundreds of years. Before the 19th century children were tried in courts the exact same as adults were, but it was only the most severe juvenile cases that actually went to trial. Children were put into prisons, transported and even hanged. In 1880, there were 6,500 children under 16 in adult prisons, 900 of which were under the age of 12 (King & Noel, 1993). Before 1900, many social ideologies shifted resulting from industrialization. The United States’ first juvenile court was opened in 1899 in Illinois. It was spearheaded by Jane Addams and many other influential women in children advocacy. Addams and the others wanted to have a separate court for
This paper will discuss the history of the juvenile justice system and how it has come to be what it is today. When a juvenile offender commits a crime and is sentenced to jail or reform school, the offender goes to a separate jail or reforming place than an adult. It hasn’t always been this way. Until the early 1800’s juveniles were tried just like everyone else. Today, that is not the case. This paper will explain the reforms that have taken place within the criminal justice system that developed the juvenile justice system.
Hyde, Margaret O. “Juvenile justice and Injustice” New York, New York Margaret O. Hyde, 1977.
The dilemma of juvenile incarceration is a problem that thankfully has been declining, but still continues to be an ethical issue. The de-incarceration trend has coincided with a decrease in crime. It is hopeful that our nation is changing the approach to the treatment of juveniles in the criminal justice system. It means we know what to do and what is working, now just to follow through and continue the change to creating a juvenile justice system that is truly rehabilitative and gives youth tools to be able to be positive members of
Barbara Sims &Pamela Preston, “Handbook of Juvenile Justice Theory and Practice” (2006),CRC Press ( pg.78-87)