Juvenile Crime Paper
CJS/200 FOUNDATIONS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
There are some important differences in the juvenile and adult courts, which protect the offenders. When dealing with cases in the juvenile courts the age of the juvenile is taken into consideration, along with the nature of the offense. This protects the juvenile from being tried as an adult if the age, nature of the crime and even the mentality doesn’t warrant that the juvenile be tried as an adult. For example, if a 13 year old juvenile stole a car and went joy riding. They wouldn’t be tried as an adult because they would determine if this was a first offense, and also evaluate the severity of the crime. It would most likely be dealt with in the juvenile courts. Another big difference in the juvenile and adult courts is the terminology, which is used. For juveniles who are brought into court, the terminology refers to the situation as an "act of delinquency". In the adult court the term "crime" is used. The juvenile offender's background is taken into consideration. For instance, the juvenile's academic record and family background are taken into consideration for a case. This doesn’t apply to adults who are presented in front of a judge. This happens that way because we tend to try and protect the children regardless of their actions. Often we as a society feel that putting kids in jail will not make things better, but will then start a long history of criminal actions to come. When dealing with juvenile offenders they are not arrested like adults; instead they are taken into custody. While an adult would be indicted the juvenile has a petition filed against them. In the juvenile court they agree to a finding or deny the petition. Adult offenders must plea, either guilty, not guilty or no contest. In the juvenile court the case can have an adjustment made to it; from that point, the juvenile court will decide if the juvenile offender will remain in a detention facility or childcare shelter. There is a
There are some important differences in the juvenile and adult courts, which protect the offenders. When dealing with cases in the juvenile courts the age of the juvenile is taken into consideration, along with the nature of the offense. This protects the juvenile from being tried as an adult if the age, nature of the crime and even the mentality doesn’t warrant that the juvenile be tried as an adult. For example, if a 13 year old juvenile stole a car and went joy riding. They wouldn’t be tried as an adult because they would determine if this was a first offense, and also evaluate the severity of the crime. It would most likely be dealt with in the juvenile courts. Another big difference in the juvenile and adult courts is the terminology, which is used. For juveniles who are brought into court, the terminology refers to the situation as an "act of delinquency". In the adult court the term "crime" is used. The juvenile offender's background is taken into consideration. For instance, the juvenile's academic record and family background are taken into consideration for a case. This doesn’t apply to adults who are presented in front of a judge. This happens that way because we tend to try and protect the children regardless of their actions. Often we as a society feel that putting kids in jail will not make things better, but will then start a long history of criminal actions to come. When dealing with juvenile offenders they are not arrested like adults; instead they are taken into custody. While an adult would be indicted the juvenile has a petition filed against them. In the juvenile court they agree to a finding or deny the petition. Adult offenders must plea, either guilty, not guilty or no contest. In the juvenile court the case can have an adjustment made to it; from that point, the juvenile court will decide if the juvenile offender will remain in a detention facility or childcare shelter. There is a