Juvenile Trials - Assignment Example

Juvenile Trials Vs Adult Trials The juvenile justice system deals with juveniles who commit illegal acts or delinquent acts. The juvenile justice system is distinct as its main goal is to restrain juvenile delinquents from future illegal or criminal acts. It initiates a clear agenda for protection, treatment, and rehabilitation of children who come under the purview of the system. Certain activities under this system include substance abuse education and treatment, youth monitoring, family counselling, parenting education, educational support and youth sheltering.

The various stages of a juvenile trial include police contact, intake of juveniles to screen the cases and detention, arraignment, evidentiary hearing, sentencing, waiver to adult court. In contrast, all the court proceedings in adult criminal trial are different. A juvenile justice system is primarily made under the assumption that juveniles are developmentally different from adults and their behaviour is pliable. The purpose is to rehabilitate and not to punish the juveniles whereas adults are more likely to get severe punishments.

Juvenile records are sealed documents restricted to public access and even their hearings are not done in public. Whereas criminal records are kept for public access and it is necessary that all the court proceedings are open to public. The juvenile offenders are put on hearing rather than a trial unlike defendants in the criminal justice system who are put on trial based on legal facts. Although the court takes action in the child’s best interest, generally juvenile trials are not the best way to handle juvenile offenders in most of the cases.

The juvenile who undergoes trial lives a life of solitude thereafter. “Labelling theory states that once young people are labelled as criminals, they are more likely to offend.” (Juvenile delinquency). References ‘Juvenile delinquency’. Retrieved from http://www.criminallawyermiamiflorida.com/resources/juvenile-delinquency.html