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Northern Essex Community College

Module 12 Prep Activity

Review the activity overview, learning objectives, directions, and submission expectations before submitting your work.

Overview

Juvenile justice in the United States has evolved through a series of landmark Supreme Court decisions that define the rights of minors in the legal system. For this discussion, students will select and summarize two of the listed cases, such as In re Gault (1967) or Roper v. Simmons (2005), highlighting each case’s major legal principles and outcomes. The summaries should clearly identify the legal factors—such as due process, sentencing limits, or procedural rights—associated with the chosen rulings. Through this activity, students will gain a deeper understanding of how these cases have shaped fairness and accountability within juvenile proceedings.

Learning Objectives

(These objectives support the prep activity and are not the questions to be answered.)

  • LO1: Identify the due process rights established by U.S. Supreme Court landmark cases, and how they affected juvenile proceedings. (SLO4)
  • LO2: Detail how the juvenile justice system differs from the adult criminal justice system. (SLO4)
Prep Topic

After completing this week’s assigned readings, prepare to participate in an in-class discussion examining the landmark Supreme Court decisions that have shaped the juvenile justice system.

Before coming to class, select two (2) of the following cases and prepare a bulleted list (not full paragraphs) that includes:

  • A brief summary of each case, including the facts, the Court’s ruling, and its significance.
  • The legal principle or constitutional issue associated with each case.
  • How each decision changed the rights of juveniles or the operation of the juvenile justice system.
  • At least three arguments supporting the position that juveniles should receive constitutional protections similar to those afforded adults.
  • At least three arguments supporting the position that the juvenile justice system should remain distinct from the adult criminal justice system, even if that means different legal protections or procedures.
  • Which position you currently find more persuasive, and why.
  • One question or observation you would like to discuss with your classmates.

Cases (select two):

  • Kent v. United States (1966)
  • In re Gault (1967)
  • In re Winship (1970)
  • McKeiver v. Pennsylvania (1971)
  • Breed v. Jones (1975)
  • Schall v. Martin (1984)
  • Roper v. Simmons (2005)
Acceptable & Ethical Use of AI
  • Use AI to help you organize and clarify the key facts and holdings of the two juvenile justice cases you selected so you can accurately summarize each case before writing your response.
  • Use AI to assist you in identifying and explaining the specific legal factor or constitutional principle associated with each case, helping you frame your analysis before completing the activity.
Directions

Please read all instructions carefully before submitting your prep activity.

  • Your prep should be no longer than one page.
  • This is not a paper; it should consist of concise talking points and bullet statements for our in-class discussion.
  • An abstract is not required.
  • Sources are not required.
  • Focus on key concepts, analysis, and examples that will help guide classroom discussion.
  • Do not overthink this activity. A simple list of well-developed talking points is sufficient.
Submission Guidelines
  • Submit your prep activity through the designated submission area.
  • Accepted formats include Word or PDF unless otherwise specified.
  • Review the grading rubric before submitting your work.
  • Submissions are checked using both a plagiarism checker and AI detection software.
  • Direct quotations should not exceed 15% of the total submission.
Important Reminder

Important: All work must be your own. AI may be used only in the limited and ethical ways described above. Using AI to write your submission is considered academic dishonesty. This activity is intended to prepare you for class discussion, so focus on creating your own talking points and analysis.