CJS220: Juvenile Court Process

Title: Juvenile Court Process Submitted by: Travis Hance Course: CJS220 Instructor: Stephen Gillespie

CJS220: Juvenile Court Process How does the court process relate to juvenile offenders? The court system attempts to treat juveniles in a unique manner. While realizing the need for the protection of society, the court system players also attempt to look for methods and means in which to either rehabilitate or potentially restore juveniles based on the severity of the crimes. Youths come into the Juvenile Justice system in any number of ways. Whether the youth is abandoned, abused, or neglected, or whether the youth is considered a delinquent or a status offender, authorities attempt to understand the youths situation (Meyer and Grant, 2003). In addition, most states include laws within the legal code which allows for crimes committed to either be expunged or sealed after a juvenile reaches the age of majority, or adulthood. Unless they

are tried as adults, juveniles cannot be incarcerated beyond expiration of juvenile jurisdiction. (Meyer and Grant, 2003).

Should the process for juveniles differ from adults? In my opinion the current process allows the court to analyze the severity of the crime and potential provide a process for rehabilitation that reduces the potential of recidivism. The sentence can either punish the defendant, or allow for a second chance while completing a sentence. The only issue that I see currently is that the age at which violent crimes appear to be occurring seems to be diminishing. This problem increases the stress upon both judges and the court system in general.

CJS220: Juvenile Court Process

References

A. The Courts in Our Criminal Justice System, by J. F. Meyer and D. R. Grant. Published by Prentice-Hall. Copyright 2003 by Pearson Education, Inc., page 430.

B. The Courts in Our Criminal Justice System, by J. F. Meyer and D. R. Grant. Published by Prentice-Hall. Copyright 2003 by Pearson Education, Inc., page 438.