No study has ever concluded that there is a positive impact from trying juveniles as adults," he said.

He also supports trying juveniles who commit serious violent crimes as adults.

He said the State Legislature has directed prosecutors to try juveniles 14 and older as adults in certain violent crimes.

Mr. Moczula said that last year, of 33 requests his office made to try juveniles as adults, only 3 were denied.

Lionel's case drew national attention to laws that make it easier to try juveniles as adults.

These two trials demonstrate that our legal system has not yet found the correct way to try juveniles charged with serious crimes.

An assistant district attorney, Joel J. Seidemann, said it was the State Legislature that restricted prosecutors' ability to try juveniles.

In the rush to try juveniles in adult courts, some critical questions go unasked.

Many states, such as Massachusetts, have special courts set aside to try and convict juveniles.

In Florida, prosecutors have wide discretion over how to try juveniles.