ould be tried in the juvenile system. In cases where the offender is younger than 16 the prosecutor must show why the juvenile should be waived. One of main issues of side A, is that if the offender is too old the sentence would not be severe enough for the crime that had been committed. Another issue is the overcrowding of the juvenile justice system. Many of the offenders in the juvenile system, if a few years older, would have already been sentenced to life sentences in an adult court. Side A does not believe that a persons age should be the lone determining factor for non-waiver. While side A does believe that there are a great many negative influences on today's youth, they believe that these circumstances do not dismiss that crimes that have been committed. The core belief that most of the side A advocates share is, the belief that the small percentage of the juveniles that are committing the serious crimes are past the point where a juvenile court could be of any help. Side A truly feels that by allowing serious juvenile offenders to be waived to adult court, thus receiving a stiffer sentence, the community, as a hole, will be much better served. Side B believes, essentially, that no child (juvenile) should be waived. Side B sees several key factors for the rise in juvenile crime. These reasons are ones that are out of the control of the juvenile. The key factors are: (a) Unemployment among teens was 19 percent in 1993, up from 15.3 percent five years earlier, and for black youths the unemployment rates were twice that. (b) Since 1970, Aid to families with dependent children benefits have declined an average of 45 percent in inflation-adjusted dollars, according to the Children's Defense Fund. (c) In 1992, there were 14.6 million children living below the poverty line, the Children's Defense Fund says, about 5 million more than in 1973. (d) In 1993, there were 3 million victims of child abuse, according to the National Committee ...
