Abstract
This Article begins by recording the history of the development of juvenile justice in the United States and explores the extent to which that system influenced South Africa's child justice system. The Article argues that because South Africa never fully embraced a separate juvenile justice model children were subjected to the mainstream criminal justice system in South Africa during the whole of the twentieth century. The end of apartheid, however, created opportunities for transformation of the law. This Article explains why, at that time, the United States was not setting a positive example for reformers to follow. Finally, this article explores more positive developments in both countries since 2005, particularly in relation to sentencing children for serious crimes
Recommended Citation
Dr. Ann Skelton,
From Cook County to Pretoria: A Long Walk to Justice for Children,
6
Nw. J. L. & Soc. Pol'y.
413
(2011).
https://scholarlycommons.law.northwestern.edu/njlsp/vol6/iss2/9
