1. Adult and Juvenile Justice system
Standards
SS8CG4
SS8CG6

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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.

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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.

12. 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