How does the juvenile court system work?
While similar to that of the adult criminal justice system in many ways—processes include arrest, detainment, petitions, hearings, adjudications, dispositions, placement, probation, and reentry—the juvenile justice process operates according to the premise that youth are fundamentally different from adults, both in …
What was the juvenile court movement?
Juvenile Court The 16th century educational reform movement in England that perceived youth to be different from adults, with less than fully developed moral and cognitive capacities, fueled the movement for juvenile justice reform in America.
What are the major trends in the juvenile justice system?
Significant trends have emerged to restore jurisdiction to the juvenile court; divert youth from the system; shift resources from incarceration to community-based alternatives; pro- vide strong public defense for youth; and respond more effectively to the mental health needs of young offenders.
What are the three basic components of the juvenile justice system?
The juvenile justice system is comprised of separate sentencing guidelines, court structures, juvenile secure and non-secure detention facilities, juvenile probation officers, and statutes that define delinquency and status offenses, which are age-related offenses.
How can the juvenile justice system be improved?
During the past two decades, major reform efforts in juvenile justice have focused on reducing the use of detention and secure confinement; improving conditions of confinement; closing large institutions and reinvesting in community-based programs; providing high-quality, evidence-based services for youth in the …
What are the risk factors towards juvenile delinquency?
INDIVIDUAL-LEVEL RISK FACTORS A large number of individual factors and characteristics has been associated with the development of juvenile delinquency. These individual factors include age, gender, complications during pregnancy and delivery, impulsivity, aggressiveness, and substance use.
What is the structure of the juvenile justice system?
The Structure of the Juvenile Justice System. Alison S. Burke. The juvenile justice process involves nine major decision points: (1) arrest, (2) referral to court, (3) diversion, (4) secure detention, (5) judicial waiver to adult criminal court, (6) case petitioning, (7) delinquency finding/adjudication, (8) probation,
How does a juvenile case go to court?
If the case progresses to court, the authorities need to determine if the youth can be released to a parent/guardian or if the youth needs to be held in a secure detention center. When determining this, the court needs to assess the risk the youth poses to society and if the youth poses a flight risk.
How is the juvenile justice system being improved?
Attempts to improve the juvenile justice system, especially in regard to detention procedures, took another step forward with the latest reauthorization of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA).
What happens when a juvenile is remanded to custody?
In these cases, the juvenile is remanded to custody. The decision to detain or release the juvenile will be made by the judge at a detention hearing. If the case is handled in court, the county attorney needs to file a petition. When the youth has a formal hearing, it is called an adjudication rather than a trial in adult court.