This signifies the switch from correction to punishment within the juvenile system.

             Another important topic to consider within the subject of the juvenile justice system is the need for provisions to address the growing problem of repeat offenders. Because there is still an effort within juvenile justice to correct some offenders rather than simply punishing all of them. However, more and more, offenders are released as rehabilitated people and commit other offenses, finding themselves back in the works of the juvenile system. Due to these occurrences, the system has changed to provide harsher penalties for those who are repeat offenders. Rehabilitation does not always work, and sometimes even leads to more violent re-offenses (Steinberg, 2001).

             The Adult Justice System.

             Alarmingly, many juvenile offenders grow up and become adult offenders in a pattern of lifelong criminal activity. These offenders will find many similarities to the juvenile system, but may also find some distrusting differences as a rude awakening.

             A main similarity between the juvenile and adult justice systems is their exponential growth over the past several decades. For example, as in the case of juvenile justice, the adult justice system has noticed a huge increase in violent crime since the 1980's, such as assault, rape, and murder (Redding, 1999). Some sources attribute this rise in violent crime to the boom in illegal drug sales, but for the purposes of this paper, it is important to realize merely that the increase exists and both the adult and juvenile systems have grown significantly as a result.

             As with the juvenile system as well, the adult system has changed its attitude about the concepts of reform versus punishment. Recent skyrocketing crime rates, and the resulting overcrowding of prisons, has caused the system to try to deter repeat offenders. In many states, this has come in the form of "three strikes and you're out", meaning that three felony convictions leads to a life sentence.