The Juvenile Justice System

The Juvenile Justice System

November 17, 2014Standards: SS8CG6

Definition of a Juvenile• Juveniles are citizens age ____ and under

• As citizens, juveniles must follow the same

__________ that all other citizens follow

• Juveniles have ________________ under the

law, and they have laws designed especially for

them

• For example, juveniles must attend _________,

cannot possess alcohol, and cannot possess

tobacco

Delinquent vs. Status Offense

• A ___________________ is one that would be

considered a crime if committed by an ________– Burglary and car theft are examples

• A ___________________ refers to an act that

would _________ be considered a crime if

committed by an adult (this is called being

_____________)

– Being repeatedly _____________ from school is an

example

Taken into Custody• When a juvenile commits a delinquent act or

status offense and they are captured by police,

they are __________________

• Juveniles have the same basic ________ rights

that adults have if they are arrested for a crime

• One major difference is there is no

___________ in a juvenile trial; only a

___________ listens to the evidence

Rights of Juveniles

• If a juvenile is taken into custody and charged with a crime:– They have the right to remain __________ so

they don’t incriminate themselves– They have the right to an _____________– They have the right to a ________ trial– They have the right to confront and question

___________________– They have the right to have their __________

present in all hearings

The Juvenile Court System

• Every county in Georgia has a ____________

court• The courts have _______ main purposes

– To help ______________ the well-being of children

– To make sure any child receives care, guidance, and

control while under the jurisdiction of the court

– To provide care for children who have been

_______________ from their homes

Juvenile Court Jurisdiction• Juvenile courts have ______________ over the

following:– Juveniles who commit _____________ offenses– ________________ juveniles– Unruly juveniles– Juveniles under the supervision or ______________

of the court– ______________ juveniles (neglected or abused by

parents or guardians, or those who have no parents or guardians)

– Cases involving children who need mental health services

Steps in the Juvenile Justice Process

• There are many ___________ in the juvenile

justice process

• Within each step are several __________ that

must be considered

• Above all, the court system must make sure that

________________ is followed for the juvenile

Step 1: Intake• When a juvenile is taken into custody, the first step is

_____________

• The juvenile is turned over to an intake officer

• It is the intake officer’s job to _______________ the

case and decide if there is enough ________________

against the juvenile

• If there is ________ enough evidence, the intake officer

must _____________ the juvenile

Step 1, part 2: Intake and Evidence

• If there is enough evidence, the intake officer

has _________ choices

– First, the juvenile may be released into the

______________ of their parents

– Second, the juvenile may be _____________

• Most juveniles are not detained in Georgia

Step 2: Detention

• If a juvenile is detained, they are housed in one of the state’s ________________________________ (RYDC)

• In special circumstances, a juvenile who is charged with an ___________ crime may be placed in an adult jail and tried by an adult court

Step 2, part 2: Probable Cause

• If a juvenile is detained, a ____________________ hearing must be held within 72 hours

• At the hearing, the judge has _________ options:– _____________ the case– Have an _________________________– Have a __________________________

Step 2, part 3: Informal Adjustment

• An _______________________ is usually held for first-time offenders

• In an informal adjustment, the juvenile must __________ the wrongdoing

• The juvenile is then under the supervision of the court for _________ days– While under court supervision, the juvenile may be

required to attend school regularly, attend counseling sessions, be required to pay for damages, or complete community service requirements

Step 3: Formal Hearing

• A __________________ is held if the juvenile is a

________ offender or the crime is serious

• First, the complaining __________ files a petition outlining

the wrongdoing

• Once the petition is filed a date is set for the formal hearing

• A ___________ is issued which requires the juvenile, the

parents, and any others involved in the case to attend the

hearing

Step 3, part 2: Adjudicatory Hearing

• An _____________________ is somewhat like an adult trial

• The _______ hears the case against the juvenile and hears the juvenile’s defense

• After listening to all evidence, the judge ___________ if the juvenile is guilty

• If found _____________, the juvenile is _________________

• If found _____________, the court schedules a ______________ hearing

Step 3, part 3: Dispositional Hearing

• In a _______________________, the judge

determines ________________ for the offense

• At this hearing, both the prosecutor and the

defense can call witnesses and present

evidence that can possibly influence the judge

Step 4: Sentencing• In__________________, the judge may select from a

number of options– Release the juvenile to the custody of the parents with

_________ court supervision– Place the juvenile on ________________– Place the juvenile in a __________________ center

for up to 90 days– Commit the juvenile to the Department of Juvenile

Justice– Send the juvenile to a _____________ program, such

as boot camp– Assign other punishments (such as fines) and special

conditions of probation (attend school regularly, community service, etc.)

Step 5: Appeal and Extension

• The juvenile has a right to _________ their case

– If an appeal is won, then the juvenile is released

with __________ punishment

– If lost, then the sentence is __________ out

• The court also has the right to _________ custody or

supervision of the juvenile for up to ________ years

if the juvenile is believed to not be reformed

Can a juvenile be tried as an adult?

• In ______, the General Assembly passed an

amendment to the Georgia Juvenile Code that

permits youths ages ___________ who are

charged with certain _________ crimes to be

treated as though they were _________

• These include _________, armed _________,

and voluntary manslaughter (an intentional

killing with no prior intent)

How to treat a juvenile offender as an adult

• The ______________ will make the decision to transfer the juvenile to the

adult court system based on the _________ of the crime and the

evidence

• A judge will then grant a ________ releasing the juvenile to the adult court

• The process is then the _______ as for an adult (______________)

• If __________ (found guilty), that person will be housed in an RYDC until

they turn ____, then transferred to an “adults-only” area of the building to

serve out the rest of their sentence

Juvenile Justice Questions • 1) What is a juvenile?• 2) Define delinquent act.• 3) Define status offense.• 4) What are examples of delinquent acts and status offenses?• 5) What does it mean when a juvenile is taken into custody?• 6) Who hears the evidence in a juvenile’s case?• 7) What are the rights of juveniles who are taken into custody?• 8) What are the 3 main purposes of juvenile courts?• 9) What do juvenile courts have jurisdiction over?

• 10) Describe Step 1 in the juvenile justice process• 11) What is the intake officer’s job?• 12) What 2 choices does the intake officer have if he believes there is

enough evidence?• 13) Where is a juvenile kept if they are detained?• 14) What 3 options does the judge have at the probable cause hearing?• 15) What happens at an informal adjustment?• 16) Why might a formal hearing be held?• 17) What is a summons?• 18) Describe the process at an adjudicatory hearing

Juvenile Justice Questions • 19) What happens at a dispositional hearing?• 20) What are the sentencing options for a juvenile

judge?• 21) What can happen after sentencing?• 22) At what age could a juvenile potentially be tried as

an adult for committing certain violent crimes?• 23) What are some examples of crimes that could

result in a juvenile being tried as an adult?• 24) What process will a juvenile go through if they are

tried as an adult?• 25) What is the punishment for a juvenile is who

convicted of an adult crime?

Juvenile Justice Questions • 1) What is a juvenile?• 2) Define delinquent act.• 3) Define status offense.• 4) What are examples of delinquent acts and status offenses?• 5) What does it mean when a juvenile is taken into custody?• 6) Who hears the evidence in a juvenile’s case?• 7) What are the rights of juveniles who are taken into custody?• 8) What are the 3 main purposes of juvenile courts?• 9) What do juvenile courts have jurisdiction over?

• 10) Describe Step 1 in the juvenile justice process• 11) What is the intake officer’s job?• 12) What 2 choices does the intake officer have if he believes there is

enough evidence?• 13) Where is a juvenile kept if they are detained?• 14) What 3 options does the judge have at the probable cause hearing?• 15) What happens at an informal adjustment?• 16) Why might a formal hearing be held?• 17) What is a summons?• 18) Describe the process at an adjudicatory hearing

Juvenile Justice Questions • 19) What happens at a dispositional hearing?• 20) What are the sentencing options for a juvenile

judge?• 21) What can happen after sentencing?• 22) At what age could a juvenile potentially be tried as

an adult for committing certain violent crimes?• 23) What are some examples of crimes that could

result in a juvenile being tried as an adult?• 24) What process will a juvenile go through if they are

tried as an adult?• 25) What is the punishment for a juvenile is who

convicted of an adult crime?

Juvenile Justice Questions • 1) What is a juvenile?• 2) Define delinquent act.• 3) Define status offense.• 4) What are examples of delinquent acts and status offenses?• 5) What does it mean when a juvenile is taken into custody?• 6) Who hears the evidence in a juvenile’s case?• 7) What are the rights of juveniles who are taken into custody?• 8) What are the 3 main purposes of juvenile courts?• 9) What do juvenile courts have jurisdiction over?

• 10) Describe Step 1 in the juvenile justice process• 11) What is the intake officer’s job?• 12) What 2 choices does the intake officer have if he believes there is

enough evidence?• 13) Where is a juvenile kept if they are detained?• 14) What 3 options does the judge have at the probable cause hearing?• 15) What happens at an informal adjustment?• 16) Why might a formal hearing be held?• 17) What is a summons?• 18) Describe the process at an adjudicatory hearing

Juvenile Justice Questions • 19) What happens at a dispositional hearing?• 20) What are the sentencing options for a juvenile

judge?• 21) What can happen after sentencing?• 22) At what age could a juvenile potentially be tried as

an adult for committing certain violent crimes?• 23) What are some examples of crimes that could

result in a juvenile being tried as an adult?• 24) What process will a juvenile go through if they are

tried as an adult?• 25) What is the punishment for a juvenile is who

convicted of an adult crime?