Juveniles, whose offending nature fundamentally differs from that of adults, should not be subjected to the traditional criminal justice system for drug offenses. Juvenile drug offenders warrant heightened attention due to their diminished capacity for reasoned judgment, increased susceptibility to the effects of drugs, the profound impact that criminal drug charges have on their future, and the possible presence of Substance Use Disorder. This Comment breaks down ways in which the U.S. has handled, and currently handles, juvenile drug offenders. I will also explore the long-term and short-term effects of drug convictions for juveniles, the issue of culpability and susceptibility to deterrence efforts, while placing an emphasis on the role of addiction. This Comment compares approaches taken by different U.S. jurisdictions, while also analyzing how other countries treat juvenile drug offenders, to adequately evaluate effective and appropriate intervention strategies. The analysis concludes by synthesizing the salient features of each approach in an effort to guide policy decisions surrounding the implementation of intervention strategies for juvenile drug offenders.
