by Robert L. Sexton

About the author: Robert L. Sexton is a professor of economics at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California.

A vast majority of states in the United States do not gain jurisdiction over young offenders in criminal courts until they reach the age of 18. As a result, the law has little control over juvenile crime and there is much recidivism. This situation could be ameliorated without the use of additional scarce resources by redefining the age at which offenders are treated as adults to, say 16, or lower yet if it is politically feasible. According to Larry J. Siegel and Joseph Senna, numerous authorities in the field believe that most youths over the age of 14 can be held accountable for their own actions....

The Growing Juvenile Crime Problem

A recent report from the U.S...