Juvenile Delinquency When a Juvenile Term Paper

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For those adults and children that admit guilt both systems offer procedures that safeguard and protect their rights ( LaMance, 2011).

There are also differences between the two systems these include; the underlying rationales of the juvenile system are that the youth are different in terms of development from adults and hence their behavior is malleable hence rehabilitation, treatment in addition to community protection are considered the primary and viable goals but when it comes to adult systems rehabilitation is not considered as a primary goal. Their operation is under the assumption that criminal sanctions should be proportional to the offense. The successful outcome of the punishment is seen as deterrence.

Another difference is the access to records in juvenile systems there are limitations that are placed on the public access to juvenile records since there is belief that the juvenile offenders can be rehabilitated and hence avoid unnecessary stigmatization. The court proceedings are made confidential to protect privacy. When it comes to adult systems there is open public access to criminal records and all court proceedings are open for the public (WGBH educational foundation, 2012)

A juvenile offender is judged as delinquent rather than guilty. This is because of the individualized nature of the juvenile system; the sentencing varies and may cover a wide range of community-based and residential options. When a disposition is made it is on the basis on the history of the individual's offenses and how severe the offense was including the significant rehabilitation component. The disposition can be for a period that is unspecified; the court can send the youth to a facility or program until the determination is made that he or she is rehabilitated or the majority age is reached.

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The disposition may also include a restitution component and can be directed at people other than the offenders like parents. On the other hand in adult systems the defendant is found innocent or guilty. The offender is sentenced to a specified period of time that is determined by the severity of the offense as well as the criminal history of the defendant (WGBH educational foundation, 2012)

In juvenile systems parole combines surveillance with activities to reintegrate the juvenile into the community while in adult system parole is based on surveillance and monitoring of illicit behavior.

The differences between juvenile and adult system are quite significant since it would not be fair to judge both adults and children in the same systems. This is because the offenses made by these children are not very serious and given a chance for rehabilitation these children can lead better life's. The officers who are employed to work in juvenile detention centre are trained to work with the youth and hence when placed in juvenile systems instead of adult systems the offenders have a better chance to receive rehabilitation that will prevent future crimes. They are also surrounded by youth their age hence a safe environment is created. The close monitoring juveniles they become a less threat to the safety of the public (Rouse, 2012)

The differences are very significant and hence they continue to justify having separate systems for juveniles and adults. This calls for the encouragement of the setting up of more juvenile systems that will ensure the youth who have committed offences are fairly tried and an opportunity is given to them to make amendments in their life's......

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"Juvenile Delinquency When A Juvenile", 05 November 2012, Accessed.18 May. 2024,
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/juvenile-delinquency-juvenile-76284