Penn Criminology Researchers Find that Processing Juveniles as Adults Causes a Small Reduction in Recidivism

In a study published in the Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, Jerry Lee Assistant Professor of Criminology Charles Loeffler and Ben Grunwald, a doctoral candidate in the criminology department, analyzed the effect of processing juveniles as adults using a regression discontinuity design. They found that processing juveniles as adults for felony drug offenses resulted in a 3- to 5-percent reduction in criminal recidivism within their sample set. They attributed their findings to a combination of enhanced deterrence and incapacitation.

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