Juvenile Justice System

Juvenile Justice System

Juvenile delinquency is also known as the youth crime or juvenile offending. It has been noted that juvenile delinquency is the participation of minors commonly referred to as the juveniles in illegal activities in the society. Juveniles are individuals aged less than the legal age of the majority (Feld, 2013). Different states in the United States have legal systems designed to address the issues of juvenile delinquency, among them are juvenile courts and juvenile detention centers. Any person under eighteen years committing crimes is subject to juvenile delinquency. The status of a crime varies with jurisdictions depending on severity and type, and there are some crimes that subjects juveniles to be tried and charged the same as adults (Feld, 2013).

Times are changing fast in the recent years, it has been noted that more and more children are being tried as adults in the American law courts. First arrests are on the increase as young girls and boys are getting involved in crimes. It is estimated that about sixty percent to eighty percent of the American adolescents are engaging themselves in juvenile offenses (Feld, 2013). Some of the crimes are status offenses; an example being underage smoking, violent crimes and property crimes among others. Teens are heavily involved in juvenile crimes and the statistics are worrying.

Researchers argue that juvenile crimes are directly proportional to normative teen behaviors, and that the pattern is evenly distributed in the world. Teens tend to ignore laws as they try new ways of doing things at adolescent stage, and in the process break the laws in non-violent crimes in most cases (Feld, 2013). Few teens engage in violent crimes, surveys around the world have indicated that the majority of adolescents are inclined to antisocial behaviors.

Status offenses are also referred to as the status crimes and they are characterized with two definitions. Status offense is part of the actions that are prohibited to a particular class of people, in most cases attached to crimes committed by the juveniles or minors. The second meaning in the United States is attached to crimes such as traffic violation where motive does not play a role in deciding whether the person is guilty or not (Feld, 2013). Status offense in Europe means regulatory offenses. Examples attached to status offenses are alcohol consumption, running away from home, smoking of tobacco and truancy among others. Status offenses are only subjected to persons engaged eighteen years and below, while the acts are legal for adults. Status offenses are also attached to laws prohibiting actions of particular persons basing on race, sex, religion and nationality among others. An example is laws that prohibit women from using men’s toilets in the public places (Feld, 2013).

Juvenile courts are also known as the young offender’s courts in the United States. Juvenile courts are characterized with a tribunal with special authority to pass judgments and try children involved in crimes. Offenders in the juvenile courts are under the age of majority according to the jurisdictions (Feld, 2013). Legal systems in the modern times separate crimes committed by juveniles and crimes committed by adults. Serious crimes such as gang related acts, murder, homicide, rape and robbery are treated as crimes committed by adults where juvenile crimes are transferred to adult criminal courts. There are a number of cases where juveniles have been treated as adults in criminal offenses (Feld, 2013).

Adult courts are tribunals powered to try and prosecute adults in criminal activities, adults in most cases are persons aged eighteen years and above. Juvenile courts comparing to adult courts have wider jurisdictions in trying offenses carried out by the minors, which are subject to a number of considerations ignored in adult courts.

Juvenile courts differ from the adult courts in a number of ways, it has been noted that juveniles are prosecuted for committing delinquent acts and not for committing crimes as in adult courts (Feld, 2013). Serious delinquent acts such as murder are considered as crimes and tried in the adult courts. Juveniles in most cases have no rights to public trial carried out by the jury. Minors subjected to crimes are directed to the judges for the trial portion, where the judges offer a ruling after hearing the evidence; this is known as adjudication hearing (Feld, 2013).

Juveniles are considered to be delinquent or not according to the court’s decision and the appropriate actions are taken. Differences from the adult courts come in on the part of actions taken by the juvenile courts, which is different to the actions propelled by the adult courts. Adult courts have a goal of punishing the perpetrators of crime while juvenile courts are directed at serving the interests of the minors and also rehabilitate or reform the minors, with the expectations that the youths will resume functionality as soon as possible in the society (Feld, 2013). Minors are kept out of the jails as much as possible through parole, probation and diversionary programs. It has been noted that juvenile courts are informal compared to the adult courts that are formal, rules on admissibility of evidence in the juvenile courts are more lenient as compared to adult courts.

Similarities between juvenile courts and adult courts are alike in diverse ways where the offenders are offered with some rights depending on the extent and type of crime committed (Feld, 2013). Minors and adults have a right to access the services of an attorney, minors and adults have rights to cross examination of witnesses and right to confront witnesses. Minors and adults are accorded rights against cases of self incrimination, minors and adults also have rights to notice of charges and that the minors and adults must be proved beyond any reasonable doubt that they committed the crimes, before any conviction to take place (Feld, 2013).

Surveys have indicated that variables correlating with juvenile crime rates identify with alcoholism, single parenthood, child maltreatment, no parental care, truancy, poor parental supervision, bullying, drug use, depression, poverty, school dropouts, gang membership and trauma among others (Feld, 2013).

Teens are considered young adults, and to some extent know what they are doing. This is the basis used by adult courts trying teens as adults depending on the nature and the extent of the crime committed (Feld, 2013). Across the United States, it has been noted that more and more juveniles are facing adult courts and tried in the same way as adults face the processes in the criminal courts, such minors are then confined in adult correctional facilities, which is a challenge among the policy makers in inhibiting or promoting community protection, rehabilitation and accountability in relation to juvenile offenders.

Minors accused of being involved in delinquent acts are advised to access the services of criminal defense lawyers with immediate effect. Criminal law in the United States is very complicated and subject to diverse interpretations. An Attorney is influential in letting the minors know their rights and propel the right defenses.

References

Feld, B. C. (2013). Cases and Materials on Juvenile Justice Administration. Eagan, Minnesota: West Publishers.

 

 

Last Completed Projects

Are you looking for a similar paper or any other quality academic essay? Then look no further. Our research paper writing service is what you require. Our team of experienced writers is on standby to deliver to you an original paper as per your specified instructions with zero plagiarism guaranteed. This is the perfect way you can prepare your own unique academic paper and score the grades you deserve.

Use the order calculator below and get started! Contact our live support team for any assistance or inquiry.

[order_calculator]