The Adjudication Process in Juvenile Justice System
Juvenile Justice System
A person under the legal age of 18 (in most state) who committed an action against the prevailing state laws is considered a juvenile. A network of government agencies that are tasked to deal with juvenile misconduct is called a juvenile justice system. They consist of Department of justice, juvenile corrections, probation, police, prosecutor, court and detention (The3rdjudicialdistrict.com N.D). In a common court, the convicted criminal’s social status is also being considered especially if the convict is a minor, the existing law that protects women and children will prevent a juvenile from being sent over to an adult correctional facility. This is to avoid the youth from being further exposed to the danger within the adult correctional environment.
When a minor committed a crime, it is the judge’s decision to determine where the juvenile offender will be sent over for detention. The prosecutor normally would seek argument to prove that the minor should be treated as an adult because of the nature of the crime. When the judge favored the prosecution, he/she will order the juvenile to be transferred to the adult court system in which the minor will be subjected to the sentencing available and applicable to a convicted adult. There are instances when juvenile waiver can be granted by the granted which in return will deny transfer of the juvenile to the adult court. In this case the minor will not be subjected to adult court sentencing and court will order to have the juvenile detained in a juvenile facility or for rehabilitation until such time he reached the legal age and that is when the adult court will act to serve sentencing (Criminal.findlaw.com N.D).
References
Criminal.findlaw.com (N.D) Juvenile Waiver Transfer to Adult Court. Web Retrieved on January 23, 2012 from http://criminal.findlaw.com/crimes/juvenile-justice/juvenile-waiver.html
The3rdjudicialdistrict.com what is the Juvenile Justice System? (N.D.). What Parents Should Know About the Juvenile Justice System Web. Retrieved on January 23, 2012 from http://www.the3rdjudicialdistrict.com/parentsjjs.html
