Trying Juveniles in Adult Courts Jeffrey Bellamy Saint Leo University Introduction to Forensic Psychology Dr. Ann Moriarty May 28, 2014 Abstract The decision to try juvenile offenders in adult criminal court vary from state to state. “A total of 29 (twenty-nine) states have statutes that simply exclude some juvenile-age offenders from the jurisdiction of their courts” (Griffin, Addie, Adams, & Firestine, 2011, p. 6). In other words, most states statutorily exclude juvenile’s charged with a serious felony offense, such as murder, from juvenile criminal court, depending on their age. There are several advantages as well as disadvantages trying child crimes in adult courts. The decisions can be far reaching and may have a significant impact on a juvenile, since their reasoning skills are lacking compared to that of an adult.
Assuming that young, petty lawbreakers may be deterred from braking laws, simply by introducing the possibility of a public flogging, has some flaws to it. Jacoby neglected to bring up, what I would call the perfect argument to this topic. People who already intentionally commit crimes in today’s American society are fully aware of the possible repercussions for their actions. Despite this knowledge they continue to commit crimes that could land them in jail. I could argue that even more crime could result in effect to fewer prisonable offences and more humane forms of corporal punishment.
Treatment can not only help a juvenile offender get past the actions that caused him/her to be an offender in the first place but also can help the juvenile from repeating the same mistake again. There are many different treatment options available for juveniles I believe the decision should be based on the nature of the crime that they committed. A juvenile delinquent crime where I live, which is the state of New Jersey, is considered anyone under the age of 17 that commits a crime. There are many different types of crimes in the United States and outside of the more serious ones such as murder and rape. Smaller crimes by juveniles can be tough to judge because they can be based on so many different factors.
Meka CJA/374 February 3, 2012 LeDetra Jones Juvenile Crime Statistics Juvenile crime, also known as juvenile delinquency is minors participating in any illegal behaviors. Juveniles are considered to be individuals under the age of 18. According to “Legal Dictionary” (2012), a juvenile delinquent is a person who is under age 18, that is found to have committed a crime in states that have declared by law that a minor lacks responsibility and thus may not be sentenced as an adult (para. 1). Juvenile crime statistics have become popular in recent years because of its arrest increase in serious crimes.
Physical force was used instead of jail. Jails housed offenders who were awaiting trial and individual who could not pay their debts. Various forms of punishments exercised during the 1700s were mutilation of all or some body parts, whippings, branding, and torture. Some people could be cast out or exiled from their neighborhood or country. The most serious crimes resulted in capital punishment.
2% of all persons executed. Roper vs. Simmons ruled that the death penalty for juveniles is a disporcinate punishment for offenders under the age 18 anf therefore a violation of the 8th amendment against cruel and unuasual punishment...now has come to an end. Approximately 60% of juvenile offenders return to prison within 3 years after their release. Assignment: I think in some cases depending on how serious the crime was or other circumstances then juveniles should be granted right to a jury trial and be treated similar to how adult offenders would be treated in the justice system. I think in some ways its and advantage because it will help place habitual or serious offenders out of the community and into some other placement to get treatment.
The punishment is to protect the community from the offender by keeping them off the street, and trying to reconcile if this person wants to change for the better, in essence to also promote the rehabilitation option to the offender which could help denounce the conduct of the offender, but ultimately for the offender to recognize the harm done to the victim of the crime and the community. The offender needs to understand the damage that has been done by their crime, and understand their actions affect everyone around them. The punishment applies to the offender per the crime committed. If the offender committed a federal crime then they go to a federal prison, if the offender is only sentenced to a year of time they will go to a jail, and for almost every other crime they would go to a state prison. The prison whether it be state or federal its main objectives in preventing and controlling criminal behavior and acts.
Juvenile Crime Paper CJS/200 7/12/13 Juvenile Crime Paper Throughout history, both adult and juvenile offenders have committed crimes and determining the punishment for these crimes required a criminal justice system to be established for both. In today’s society, we have different court systems for adults and juveniles. Juvenile crime has increased dramatically through the past several years. Although there are several similarities between the adult and juvenile court systems, there are several differences as well. Unlike the adult court system, the juvenile court system is more geared towards protecting the juvenile’s privacy, preventing harm to the juvenile, and rehabilitation rather than sentencing for punishment of the crimes committed.
It will also discuss how focusing on rehabilitation instead of punishment will affect different aspects of society and the criminal justice system. The juvenile justice system has had its ups and downs. In some years it was thought that having harsher punishment for the juveniles was the ideal answer. During the Clinton administration, crime rates rose for juveniles and congressional leaders demanded tougher treatment for juvenile felons, including more incarceration in both adult and youth correctional facilities (Krisberg, 2008). Although President Clinton passed bills to push for harsher punishment for juveniles before it could go into effect, the juvenile crime rates dropped.
Justice has evolved a great deal, especially when the death penalty is involved. It is cruel and unusual punishment to end such young misguided lives. Justice has come such a great deal over the years, yet has it come far enough? When we think of children, juveniles, things such as murder, death row, and life without parole usually do not come to mind. Should we hold juveniles responsible for the wrongful decisions that they make at an early age?