Adult and Juvenile Justice system Standards SS8CG4 SS8CG6

About the System • Adult system deals with adults (17+ ) • Civil and Criminal law • Criminal – felonies or misdemeanors Civil – disputes between two people • Defendant, goes in front of jury or judge. Summary

Felony/Misdemeanor Felony • Serious crimes like murder, rape, or grand theft • Minimum sentence of 1 yr. • Capital Crimes are crimes punishable by death Misdemeanor • less serious crimes like assault • punishments = fine or less jail time

3 Main Steps Step 1: Pretrial 1a. Arrest – person is detained 1b. Booking – make record of arrest 1c. Initial Appearance – set bail and charges explained 1d. Preliminary hearing – judge determines probably cause 1e. Grand jury indictment – jury decides if there is enough evidence to charge 1f. Arraignment- suspects enters pleas, if guilty, goes straight to sentencing. 1g. Possible plea bargain – process of negotiation. May plead guilty to lesser crime.

Steps Continued Step 2: Trial 1. Jury selection 2. Opening statements 3. Presentation of evidence 4. Closing statements 5. Jury deliberation and verdict 6. Sentencing

Appeals Process Step 3: Appeals Process Purpose: defendant maintains his/her innocence or if court made a mistake. If court of appeals overturns ruling, it goes back to Superior Court for new trial. GA’s 2 Courts of Appeal: • Supreme Court • Court of Appeals

Settling Disputes Settling Disputes Peacefully • rather than using courts, there are several ways to settle disputes peacefully. Examples: Mediation arbitration, compromise negotiation collaboration How does the judicial branch fulfill its role? • Interpreting Laws • Ensuring justice

Juvenile Courts Why were Juvenile courts created? Children are not always fully responsible Juveniles may need to be protected Juveniles should not be sentenced as adults

Status Offense/Delinquent Behavior Status offense: an offense that would not be a crime if committed by an adult. Ex: child refuses to go to school, running away from home, caught with alcohol in hand Delinquent Behavior: committing a crime (it’d be a crime, even if an adult committed it) Ex: robbery, vandalism, DUI, drug offenses

Juvenile Rights Juvenile rights: (specific to juveniles) Right to a private trial Right to have parents present different terminology more of a spirit of rehabilitation than punishment Jurisdiction of the juvenile courts: over children less than 17 yrs. old or deprived 18 yr. olds

Steps in the Juvenile Justice Process Intake Detention hearing Adjudicatory hearing Dispositional hearing Informal adjustment: A period of time where a child is under careful oversight of court.

7 Delinquent Behaviors (deadly Sins Law) murder aggravated sexual battery voluntary manslaughter aggravated molestation armed robbery aggravated sodomy rape If you are accused: transferred to superior court to be tried as an adult. Possible consequences up to : life in prison