Gallup finds more growing numbers think juveniles should be treated more leniently than adults by justice system

Americans are divided on how the nation's criminal justice system should treat juvenile defendants, according to new polling by Gallup, but more people are expressing support for leniency than two decades ago.

The poll, published Tuesday, found that 46 percent of respondents believe that juveniles between the ages 14 to 17 who commit violent crimes should be treated the same way as adults in the criminal system. Forty-seven percent say the justice system should take a more lenient approach with juveniles. 

This is a 13-point decrease from a previous poll conducted in October 2003, where 59 percent of respondents believe that juveniles who commit violent crimes should be treated the same way as adults in the criminal system, according to the poll. 

Gallup found significant differences in their polling by age, with voters under 50 years old more likely to express support for leniency.

More Republicans, 59 percent, say juveniles who commit violence crimes should be treated the same was as adults than Democrats, at 33 percent. Forty-five percent of Independents say juveniles should be treated the same way as adults.

A majority of Democrat respondents, 60 percent, believe the criminal court system should take a more lenient approach when punishing juveniles who commit violent crimes.

Overall, the poll showed declines in the percentage of people who think adults and juveniles should be treated the same way across political parties and age groups, compared to 20 years ago.

The Gallup poll was conducted from October 2 to October 23 with a total of 1,009 respondents participating in the survey. The poll’s margin of error was four percentage points.