Overview of Juvenile Courts: Purpose and Classification

In chapter 10 the book talks about Juvenile courts. Juvenile court is a court of law that has jurisdiction over minors. The purpose for juvenile courts is to offer juveniles justice and treatment. In most states, juvenile court purpose clauses fall into one or more of five categories (Synder and Sickmund 2006, 98). The five categories are balance and restorative justice clauses, standard juvenile court act clause, legislative guide clause, clauses that emphasize punishment and traditional child welfare. In all states the courts puts children under three classification. The first one is those who are neglected or abused. The second is status offenders. The third is those who broke the law. There has been several issues on deciding if a child can tried in an adult court. What’s the appropriate age? The nature of the crime depends on if the child will be tried in adult court or not. Mostly juvenile courts takes place in the

The district attorney writes the name, age and address of the minor. The district attorney also writes what law they broke and if it’s a felony or misdemeanor. The detention hearing is held after the petition is signed. The detention hearing is when the court decides if the minor should be detained. The adjudication hearing is when the kid is question about the crime he committed. Almost the same as the adult court where lawyers can cross examine. The dispositional hearing is where the judge decides the best way to deal with the juvenile. Griffin and Torbet suggested the following disposition recommendations checklist. What risks does the juvenile pose to the community? What is the juvenile attitude toward the victim and the offense? What factors and circumstances contributed to the juvenile offending? What skills does the juvenile need to acquire? What are the juveniles (and the juveniles family’s) strengths resources and receptiveness to intervention (2002,