The Juvenile Court System for Minors Accused of Crimes

Almost every state in the U.S. has its own juvenile court system to handle the legal matters of minors, including criminal matters, child abuse and neglect cases, and truancy matters.

The juvenile justice system differs from the adult criminal justice system in many respects. If you are a juvenile or if your child has been accused of a crime, you should have a criminal defense attorney by your side to help you.

The Minor Accused of a Crime

When a minor commits a crime, it is undoubtedly traumatic for the victim. However, it can also be shocking and painful for the youthful offender and their family. It is thought that minors can be more easily rehabilitated than adults and that minors are not always responsible for their actions because they lack the mental capabilities of an adult.

Adult prisons and adult criminal courts are not appropriate for children. To deal with juvenile crime but minimize juvenile delinquency cases, juvenile courts were established to hear the cases of minors accused of crimes.

The age of children who are eligible to be tried under the juvenile court system varies from state to state. Most states will automatically process anyone under 18 years old who is accused of a crime as a juvenile. Some states drop that age limit to 16. Similarly, for crimes deemed serious enough, many states will charge minors between the ages of 14 and 19 as adults.

Typically, children under the age of seven are too young to be in either the juvenile or the adult court system.

What Happens to Youthful Offenders in Juvenile Court?

The answer to that question will depend on the state where the alleged crime was committed, the seriousness of the alleged crime, and the strength of the evidence against the alleged offender. Courts must still follow due process for young offenders.

In some circumstances, after a disposition hearing, the case will go forward and the defendant will be tried as a minor in juvenile court. However, if certain circumstances exist then it might be possible for the minor to avoid formal charges. Usually, a juvenile judge and prosecutor will consider the seriousness of the crime, the alleged offender’s age, the alleged offender’s criminal record, and the ability of the parents to control the child.

Sentencing in Juvenile Court

If a judge finds that the allegations against the minor have been proven then the judge will find the minor to be a youthful offender. Then the judge will decide the disposition of the case. If the minor is found not to be a threat to others then they might receive probation. However, if the minor has been found to have committed a serious crime, then they will likely be sent to a juvenile correction facility. Juvenile correction facilities are supposed to provide education and rehabilitation services for youthful offenders.

The juvenile court system has a simple goal. It is meant to provide the best possible future life for the children in its system. That is true whether the children are youthful offenders, victims of abuse or neglect, or delinquents in need of protection from themselves.

Juvenile detention, curfew, a juvenile detention facility, and community service are also seen as viable alternatives to incarceration in adult prison when juveniles commit juvenile offenses.

In 2005, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states may not impose the death sentence on youthful offenders under the age of 17 because it is cruel and unusual punishment. This reversed an earlier court ruling that permitted the death penalty for youthful offenders.

However, in 2021 the Supreme Court found that states may sentence a juvenile offender to life in prison even if they are not deemed “permanently incorrigible.” The Supreme Court said states are still required to take into account the age of the prisoner while sentencing them for serious offenses and violent crimes, but said in juvenile cases state courts can sentence a juvenile to life in prison without proving why it was necessary. This is a departure from juvenile law.

Children Need Legal Help. Attorneys Can Provide It.

The entire rationale of the juvenile justice system is that young people, adolescents, youthful offenders, teenagers, and collectively, juveniles, need special attention when in the criminal justice system. Anything you can do to prevent a juvenile from obtaining a criminal record is helpful. Engaging with a juvenile criminal attorney will provide your child with the best chance at protecting their rights and future.