What alternative to adult court does Judicial Waiver seek to avoid?

Judicial Waiver serves as a mechanism that allows certain juvenile offenders to be transferred from juvenile court to adult court based on the nature and severity of their offenses. One of the primary goals of this transfer is to address concerns regarding excessive leniency in juvenile justice, particularly for serious and violent crimes. Advocates of the judicial waiver argue that juvenile courts may not impose sanctions that are sufficiently severe to match the gravity of the criminal behavior, which might lead to public concern about justice and accountability.

By utilizing a judicial waiver, the court aims to ensure that serious juvenile offenders face appropriate consequences in the adult system, which generally has stricter penalties and more stringent measures than those typically available in the juvenile justice system. This transfer is meant to reflect the seriousness of the crime committed and take into consideration the public's safety and sense of justice, thus directly addressing the issue of leniency that some perceive in juvenile courts.

The other concepts, such as prolonged juvenile incarceration or minimizing juvenile court's authority, do not directly reflect the core aim of the judicial waiver. The focus is more on the appropriateness of punishment in relation to the crime rather than the overall workings of the juvenile system or its authority.