Lesson 6: Juvenile Justice (Chapter 15 Section 4) ESSENTIAL QUESTION How are young people affected by the law?

Young People and the Law Over 2,500 children in jail in Georgia juvenile: citizen under the age of 17 truancy: failure to attend school juveniles must follow state’s laws, but violators may be tried by a juvenile court Common crimes: smoking, drinking alcohol, loitering (hanging around a public place without permission), violating curfews, running away

Juvenile Court System every county has a juvenile court purposes: help and protect children ensure protection of children coming under their jurisdiction provide care for children removed from their home delinquent act: act that would be a crime if committed by an adult (example: burglary) status offense or unruly child: an act that would not be a crime if committed by an adult (example: smoking)

Steps in Juvenile Justice Process Intake Officer: Juvenile is brought to an intake officer who decides if there is enough evidence to make a charge against them. Release or Detain: if there is not enough evidence, the juvenile is released to their parents or guardian; if there is enough evidence against the juvenile, they are held in a youth detention center or adult prison depending on the crime. If the juvenile is detained there must be a hearing within 72 hours to determine if proceedings should continue. Informal Adjustment: (optional if a juvenile is a first time offender) juvenile must admit guilt to the judge & is under the supervision of the courts for 90 days.

Steps in Juvenile Justice Process continued… 4. Adjudicatory Hearing: the judge determines the juvenile’s guilt or innocence. Juries do not hear juvenile cases. 5. Disposition Hearing: judge hears witnesses & determines the punishment for the juvenile 6. Sentencing: the judge rules on the juvenile’s punishment, which can include boot camp, probation, the youth detention center, fines, and/or mandatory counseling & school attendance 7. Appeal: the juvenile can appeal the ruling if there is enough evidence to prove that they were innocent.

Juvenile Justice System

Difference in Terminology Adult Juvenile Crime Offense Arrest Taken into custody Trial Adjudicatory Hearing Conviction Adjudication Sentence Disposition = = = = =

Georgia’s Seven Deadly Sins Act 1994: legislature addressed issue of increasingly violent youth crime juveniles charged with certain crimes (murder, rape, armed robbery with a firearm) could be treated as adults by the courts superior courts handle these cases mandatory 10-year sentences were a part of the new law

The Seven Delinquent Behaviors Seven Delinquent Behaviors – Behaviors that are automatically outside the jurisdiction of juvenile court (transferred to Superior Court, where the juvenile will be prosecuted as an adult). Children between the ages of 13 and 17 who are thought to have committed any of these crimes will be tried as an adult: Murder Voluntary Manslaughter Armed Robbery with a firearm Rape Aggravated Sodomy Aggravated Sexual Battery Aggravated Child Molestation

Rights of Juveniles juveniles have the right to a fair and speedy trial no juries in juvenile cases parents or guardians may be present at hearings attorney must be provided if child’s parents cannot afford one

Students’ Rights Under School Law sometimes students’ rights have been in conflict with schools’ authority courts have ruled that students’ civil rights are in effect at school; however, schools have been given broad power to control and manage the school environment

Students Responsibilities Under School Law students have a legal right to a free public education responsibilities of students: attend school regularly from ages 6-16 follow reasonable rules and regulations work with school officials to prevent disruption and violence which keeps students from learning and achieving Click to return to Table of Contents.