The Children's Defense Fund, one of the strongest child
advocacy groups in the United States, describes the
historical basis for the special treatment for children in
trouble as follows:

Over 100 years ago, legislation was put in place in the United
States of America to ensure that children were treated like children
by the legal system. It was assumed at the time that children who
break the low, would not be treated as adults. This was partly due
to the fact that children are seen to possess the unique capacity
to respond positively to appropriate care and treatment, even
moreso than adults. ( Children's Defense Fund 1976)

The fact that this was realized in the United States of America
over 120 years ago does not mean that the social planners
and policy makers there always deal with children in their
country with that maxim in mind, but one gets the impression
over the years that some of them do try. Throughout the history
of the development of social services for families in Jamaica,
very little has been done to improve the quality of service
delivery to children in trouble with the law. The result is that
they are not treated with the assumption that they can be
rehabilitated and returned to their families. Children, despite
their fragile nature, are in fact quite resilient and exhibit
qualities which suggest that they can become well adjusted,
wholesome citizens if they are given the necessary support and
encouragement. However, we have a situation where once

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