C. Refer to juvenile court The police officer may also place the juvenile in custody and refer the case to juvenile court. When it reaches juvenile court , a prosecutor or juvenile court intake officer take over. The case could be dismissed. The court could also handle the matter informally , or file formal charges. D. Arrested Charges could be filed against the youth once it reaches juvenile court.
The courts put in place to reform the child rather than to serve sentence as justice. Juvenile delinquency is an individual under the age of eighteen and considered a minor that is declared by legal terms to lack the responsibility and cannot be sentenced as an adult. Some examples will be if a child drinks, he or she could be charged, skipping school, practicing sexual activities, or breaking curfew. Status offenders are offenders that are minors that commit a crime that is only written for children. One example is when a child runs away, the child has committed a crime versus an adult running away from home.
This system consists of a network of agencies that deal with juveniles who breaks the law. The agencies include the law enforcement, the courts, and the Department of Juvenile Correction or Detention. The objective of the juvenile justice system is to hold the juvenile accountable for his or her wrongdoing, enable the offender to become a productive and capable citizen, and ensure the safety of the community. Bilchik (1998), “The system must include mechanisms for comprehensively assessing a juvenile, the capacity to provide a range of treatments, and incorporate severe sanctions and enhanced treatment services” (para. 1).
Crimes that are considered delinquent crimes are the same as adult crimes the only difference is the age of the perpetrator. However, acts that would not be considered criminal in adults may still be considered delinquent in juvenile defenders. For example, running away from home would be considered a delinquent act when referring to a minor. Although, running away from is not breaking the law per se, it is a delinquent act for the reason that a child is expected to be under the care of their parents or a responsible adult at all times. In some of the states in the United States of America, children are considered juveniles until the age of 21 however; the majority of the states have eighteen being the cutoff between juvenile and adult.
In juvenile court a plea bargain hinges on a juvenile's compliance with certain conditions. For example, as part of a plea deal, a juvenile may need to attend counseling, obey curfews, or even attend rehabilitation program. In the adult court a plea bargain hinges on the involved defendant pleading guilty to a lesser charge, or to only one of several charges that they have. Sentencing Hearing exist for juvenile and adult offenders. A sentence hearing is when the judge gives the offender there sentence that they have to
Research has shown that juvenile offenders are more apt [Passive voice] to return to the justice system the more they are in contact with the system; therefore, interventions need to be different depending upon whether youth are classified [Passive voice] as low, medium or high risk. Furthermore, indicates keeping lower-risk youth out of detention and results in lower incidence of crime. The incomplete information was advised in the Missouri and Washington State prior assessments above for each individual. Each state’s classification system incorporates a matrix that is designed [Passive voice] to match the sanction with the level of control necessary to manage the risk (Missouri Juvenile Offender Risk Assessment, 2003). The purpose of the classification matrix is to suggest the presumptive sanction(s) for youth entering the juvenile justice system based on the seriousness of the present offense and the risk of continued delinquent behavior.
Juveniles under the legal age of eighteen years old are subjected to special juvenile laws when being accused of or arrested for a crime. A child that is taken into custody for a supposed crime must be taken to a juvenile detention center and may be released to guardians or parents upon a promise to reappear in court and an authorization of release made by a judge. Family plays an important role in the apprehension and sentencing of juveniles, as they are not considered adults. Family involvement can have a colossal impact on how a juvenile absorbs the consequences for his or her
Richard Watts University of Phoenix Professor J. Kilgo July 9, 2012 The process of a juvenile who commit offenses can be harsh but also light. Juveniles should be held accountable for their actions, and some actions require punishment of more than words can bare. The process a child takes from intake to completion can be very strenuous but rewarding. A plan will be put in place for the juvenile to attend such classes as needed. A risk assessment as well as a compass will be completed and in order.
It is said that with the existence of so many exceptions may cause misunderstanding of the Miranda right and exploitation by the police. These specific rulings provide for the presence of an attorney for the suspect on the belief that this will prevent possible coercion. The Miranda case is applicable to every criminal
The second point that I am going to talk about is being tried as a juvenile. Being tried as a juvenile is sometimes more effective than if a juvenile is being tried as an adult. According to Jeffrey Fagan, the juvenile court system has the ability to transfer a juvenile delinquent to criminal court, which is also known as adult court. Being tried as a juvenile can result in the delinquent being suspended from school and/or social life, or being sent away in hopes to change the juvenile’s behavior. Fagan quoted, “Treating juveniles as adults is not effective as a means of crime control.” Also, the juvenile court presumes that the reason for some of the crimes committed is because the offenders are immature.