The Juvenile Court Process

The Juvenile Court Process

When a case is sent to juvenile court, it usually goes to an intake officer, who often is a juvenile probation officer. In some states, it may go to a prosecutor instead (The Courts in Our Criminal Justice System, 2003). The juvenile court process is in some ways similar to the processing of adults. However, there are some differences. Like adult cases, it is still highly recommended to have a lawyer who is experienced in juvenile law.
Like all cases, each case begins somewhere and there are lots of options on how to pursue them. When a juvenile is arrested, they can be referred to a juvenile court, social services or their case can even go all the way to adult court. The options for the cases are determined by the severity of the crime that they have committed. In some instances, their case could be thrown out altogether like in adult court. Some juveniles, such as first time offenders are sent to diversion programs- programs that are designed to ensure that they do not commit the crime again.
As with adult cases, if the case is not thrown out the defendant still receives some form of punishment for their crime. In most cases, the punishment for a juvenile is probation. Some have to pay fines but the biggest punishment is being sent to a juvenile detention center, much like jail. Although juvenile courts’ authority rarely extends past a person’s eighteenth birthday, juveniles may be confined beyond that age (The Courts in Our Criminal Justice System, 2003).
Once a person looks at the facts and compares the juvenile court process and the adult court process, they can see that they really aren’t that different. The person commits the crime and they go through the same processes. Should the process for juveniles and adults be different? Absolutely not! Whether they are a minor or an adult, the process should not be different. They committed a crime and they should be treated equally despite their age. It has been said that all men are created equal- why treat...