In 2003, when he was sixteen, Terrence Graham and three other teens attempted to rob a barbeque restaurant in Jacksonville, Florida. Though they left with no money, and no one was seriously injured, Terrence was sentenced to die in prison for his involvement in that crime. As shocking as Terrence's sentence sounds, it is merely a symptom of contemporary American juvenile justice practices. Today in this country, adolescents are routinely transferred out of juvenile court and into adult criminal court without any judicial oversight. Once in adult court, children can be sentenced without regard for their youth. Juveniles are housed in adult correctional facilities; they may be held in solitary confinement; and they experience the highest rates of sexual and physical assault among inmates. Until 2005, children convicted in America's courts were subject to the death penalty; today, they still may be sentenced to die in prison - no matter what efforts they make to rehabilitate themselves. America has waged a war on kids. The War on Kids reveals how the United States went from being a pioneer to an international pariah in its juvenile sentencing practices. While academics and journalists have recognized the failings of juvenile justice practices in this country and have called for change, recent Supreme Court decisions and political developments make those calls a reality today. The War on Kids seizes upon this moment of judicial and political recognition that children are different in the eyes of the law. The book chronicles the shortcomings of juvenile justice by drawing upon social science, legal decisions and first-hand correspondence with Terrence and others like him - individuals whose adolescent errors have cost them their lives. At the same time, The War on Kids maps out concrete steps that states can take to correct the course of American juvenile justice.

About the Author
Cara Drinan is a nationally recognized expert on the Sixth Amendment right to counsel, juvenile sentencing and criminal justice reform. She earned her B.A. in Economics at Bowdoin College, an M.A. in Politics, Philosophy and Economics at Oxford University, and her J.D. at Stanford Law School. After a brief period in private practice, she joined the law faculty at the Catholic University of America in 2006. Drinan teaches criminal law, criminal procedure, and juvenile law, among other courses. Her research focuses on nationwide criminal justice reform, and her proposals entail all branches of government. She is especially interested in giving voice to those whose lives have been shaped by the mass incarceration phenomenon.

Reviews
Concluding with Drinan's suggested reforms to the juvenile justice system as it exists in America, The War on Kids accomplishes its stated ends. Drinan successfully articulates and explains, through the use of empirical data and real-world examples, the shortcomings of American juvenile justice. * Kamryn Gallardo, Journal of Youth and Adolescence *
this book is highly recommended for readers who are interested in an accessible yet comprehensive book about the juvenile justice system in the U.S. * Rong Bai and Robert Fischer, Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare *
This is a well-written book that conveys the harsh reality of criminal justice practices and legal doctrines in a way accessible to non-lawyers and the broader public. * Criminal Law and Criminal Justice Books *



Book Information
ISBN 9780190605551
Author Cara H. Drinan
Format Hardback
Page Count 240
Imprint Oxford University Press Inc
Publisher Oxford University Press Inc
Weight(grams) 499g
Dimensions(mm) 163mm * 236mm * 25mm