What is the juvenile justice process?

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When young people commit crimes, questions arise as to whether they're truly capable of understanding or bearing responsibility for what they've done. The juvenile justice system exists to address this problem, aiming to show young offenders the error of their ways without unduly harsh punishment.

Definition

The juvenile justice system handles the cases of young people accused of committing crimes. The age of jurisdiction varies from state to state, but in most states, it handles most offenders younger than 18.

Philosophy

The juvenile justice system aims to rehabilitate offenders rather than punish them, according to Cornell University. The system is based on the premise that juvenile offenders, on the whole, are not old enough to be held responsible for criminal acts.

Exceptions

Not all young people accused of crimes are tried through the juvenile justice system. Laws vary by state, but juveniles can be tried as adults (or tried as juveniles but be subject to adult punishment) for severe, violent or otherwise heinous crimes. Juvenile courts may also impose blended sentencing--a juvenile sentence until the person reaches a certain age, followed by an adult sentence.

Considerations

Most states require that an offender reach a minimum age for the case to be transferred out of juvenile court and into criminal court. In Arizona, an offender must be at least 15 years old to face murder charges in criminal court. In Wisconsin, the age is 10. States such as Florida and Pennsylvania have no minimum age for murder charges.

Time Frame

Juvenile courts can maintain jurisdiction over an offender beyond that person's 18th birthday. For example, California can enforce juvenile sentences until the offender reaches the age of 24. Colorado, Hawaii and New Jersey juvenile courts maintain jurisdiction over offenders for the duration of the sentence.

Source:

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention: Jurisdiction

Cornell University Law School: Juvenile Justice

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention: Statutory Exclusion Provisions

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What is the juvenile justice process?

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