Christopher Slobogin and Mark R. Fonacaro: Juveniles at Risk: A Plea for Preventive Justice

In Juveniles at Risk: A Plea for Preventive Justice, authors Christopher Slobogin and Mark R. Fondacaro make a compelling case for the need to reform to the juvenile justice system, arguing that an individual prevention model of juvenile justice is best for both juveniles and society as a whole because it focuses on reducing juvenile recidivism rather than on the punishment of past crimes. They are critical of the retribution model of juvenile justice, which is similar to the adult system because it focuses chiefly on the culpability of juveniles. On the flip side, they also are critical of the rehabilitation model for being too broad in its scope. This model excuses children for their antisocial behavior and instead focuses on treatment with the main goal of improving a child’s psychological wellbeing and appropriate integration into society. Unlike these other models, Slobogin and Fondacaro believe that the individual prevention model of juvenile justice best uses current knowledge regarding the causes of juvenile crime and treatment of youthful offenders, can be applied under the current legal doctrine, and provides the best reason for preserving a separate juvenile justice system. …