1. Georgia Studies Unit 8 – Judicial Branch in Georgia
Lesson 6 – Juvenile Justice
Study Presentation

2. Lesson 6 – Juvenile Justice
ESSENTIAL QUESTION
How are juveniles treated differently under Georgia’s judicial system?
This is an essential question for this section of the chapter.

3. Juvenile Justice System
GA in 1906 passed a law establishing juvenile courts
1911 Fulton County set up the 1st juvenile court
Juveniles – citizens under the age of 17
Delinquent Act – an act that would be considered a crime if committed by adult
Status offense – act that would not be a crime if committed by adult
Truancy – failure to attend school

4. The Purpose of the Juvenile System
Help and protect the well being of children
To make sure that any child coming under the jurisdiction of the court receives the care guidance, and control needed
To provide care for children who have been removed from their homes
Juveniles are taken into custody

5. Juvenile Court’s Jurisdiction
Traffic Offenses
Delinquent Juveniles
Unruly Juveniles – those who commit status offenses (running away, truancy)
Juveniles under probation
Deprived Juveniles – children who are neglected or abused
Children needing mental health services
Judicial consent for marriage, employment, etc. of a juvenile

6. Juvenile Justice
Juvenile – Any person, in the state of GA, under the age of 17.
Unruly Behavior – Is considered a status offense when committed by children (would not be a crime if committed by an adult). Examples of unruly behavior:
Child refusing to go to school (Truancy).
Child habitually disobeys parents or caregivers.
Child runs away from home.
Loitering (child roams the streets or “hanging out”) between midnight and 5 A.M.
Disobeying supervision terms after previous finding of unruly (told to not do something and you do it).
Going to bar without parent.
Underage possession of alcohol/tobacco.
HB 242 – In 2013, House Bill 242 changed the terminology for juvenile offenders from Unruly Behavior to “Children in Need of Supervision” or CHINS Behavior.
A child showing unruly behavior may be given treatment (if offense involves alcohol or drugs) and may be committed to a place of detention ran by GA’s Department of Juvenile Justice.

7. Juvenile Justice
Delinquent Behavior – When a child commits a crime it is considered delinquent behavior. A child who is less than 13 years old cannot be tried for a crime in GA. A child between 13 and 17 years old will be punished according to the law. This may include spending up to five years in a juvenile detention facility.
Rights of Juvenile Offenders:
Right to Notice of Charges
Right to a lawyer (Counsel)
Right to Confront and cross-examine witnesses
Right to No self-incrimination
Right to written transcript of proceedings
Right to Appellate review
Right to bail
Right to proof beyond reasonable doubt
Right to No “double jeopardy”

8. Juvenile Justice Process
Children thought to be delinquent are taken into custody (Intake) and their parents are notified. Children may then be released to the parents or detained (held) at a Regional Youth Detention Center or in a community shelter or foster home.
The next step is a Probable Cause Hearing. A judge looks over the case to determine whether the children should be released or detained further.
The next step is a Adjudicatory Hearing (equivalent of adult trial). A judge decides whether the charges are true or not. If the judge decides the charges are untrue the case can be dismissed.
The next step is a Dispositional Hearing (equivalent of adult sentencing). At this hearing the judge decides the course of treatment, supervision, or rehabilitation that the delinquent, unruly, or deprived child should undergo. The judge may decide that probation if necessary. In some serious cases the judge may transfer the case to a superior court where the child will be tried as an adult.
The different courts each have their own job and jurisdictions.

9. Juvenile Justice System
Age/Nature of Offense
0-12
13-14
15-16 17
18+
Status offense J
N/A
Traffic offense A
Delinquent act which would not be a felony for adult
Delinquent act which would be felony for adult
J but can be transferred to A
Delinquent act/crime which is (a) punishable by death or life imprisonment or (b) aggravated battery resulting in serious bodily injury to victim, but which is not a deadly sin
Deadly sin

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

11. Seven Deadly Sins Act
Passed in 1994 youths charged with certain violent crimes could be tried as adults
They would fall under the jurisdiction of the superior court
Some of the crimes are murder, rape, and armed robbery with a firearm.

12. 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

13. Murder Committed with Malice
Thought about ahead of time, express or implied
Life in prison for juvenile – probation after 30 years

14. Voluntary Manslaughter
Causes Death
The result of a sudden, violent, and irresistible passion.
Resulting from serious provocation

15. Armed Robbery with a firearm
People are robbed. Houses are Burglarized
Person has to be present, Gun has to be real.
Life in prison

16. Sexual Crimes Consequences
Life in prison without parole
Life in prison with possibility of parole after 25 or 30 years.
Register as a sex offender