Author Question: What are the implications of treating juveniles as adults within the justice system? What will be ... (Read 47 times)

ENagel · **on:** Aug 23, 2018

What are the implications of treating juveniles as adults within the justice system?

What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Describe at least one concern about using the PCL across racial and ethnic backgrounds.

What will be an ideal response?

lucas dlamini · **Reply #1 on:** Aug 23, 2018

Answer to Question 1

There has always been a way to transfer juveniles to the adult system and different states have means and laws to do so. Recent changes had have made it easier to try juveniles as adult offenders and this is a significant departure from the original intent of having a separate juvenile justice system. Some state waiver laws have once an adult, always an adult provision.

Answer to Question 2

The original PCL was designed using a sample of Caucasian male offenders in Canadian prisons. Because of the homogeneity of the sample, there is question as to whether the PCL can be generalized to other groups.
The PCL was later tested on an African American population, and these inmates with psychopathic features were found to be less impulsive. Impulsivity is a key feature of psychopathy.
However, other research, including meta-analyses as well as research on female offenders, found no significant racial differences.
Most recent research indicates that any racial/ethnic differences in psychopathy scores are minimal and nonsignificant.
Nonetheless, in light of the fact that there are many PCL instruments on the market, continued research is warranted before firm conclusions can be drawn.