Deese 1

Arlayna Deese

Mrs. DeBock

English 4 Honors

6 April 2017

Juvenile Court System

The juvenile court system handles each case differently depending on the severity of the

crime. Juveniles who are convicted can be sent through a juvenile court system, but if the crime

is serious enough, can be sent to an adult court. The police, court and correctional facilities that

are involved play the main roles in delinquent behavior and convictions. Law enforcement work

to prevent juvenile delinquency and maintain public safety. The United States outline of the

processing of a juvenile criminal is general therefore, each state is able to create their own

system that is usually based off traditions and local practices. The goal of the juvenile court

system in each state is to rehabilitate rather than punish. The juvenile court system is the most

prominent system used to address and deal with youth who are caught and convicted of crimes.

From state to state the process of a juvenile court system varies. Depending on the extent

of the crime they can be placed in an adult court system. When a minor is charged with a crime,

his or her case is usually held in a Juvenile Court or Family Court, rather than a General Sessions

(Juvenile Criminal Defense). Many officials work to prevent juveniles from going into the

system and often place them in alternative programs based on the situation at hand. When a

juvenile is arrested for a crime the law enforcement agencies decide whether to send them to a

criminal court or alternative programs. This decision is made after law enforcement officials

have contact with the juvenile, his or her parents, and prior criminal offenses (Juvenile Court

System). According to the article written by the Thompson Defense Firm, A juvenile defendant
 Deese 2

has most of the same rights that an adult has, including the right to a trial, the right to call

witnesses and to cross-examine the states witnesses, the right to subpoena witnesses and

evidence, the right to remain silent, and the right to proof beyond reasonable doubt. In the state

of South Carolina a juvenile does not have the right to a jury trial but instead must have a bench

trial in front of a family court judge. During a juvenile case, the court will sometimes order an

evaluation, either while at home or at a evaluation center, and then the Court will sentence the

minor after receiving further recommendations based on the evaluation of the case (Juvenile

Criminal Defense). In the United States the juvenile justice system is general and outlines

similar series of decision points therefore, each state has their own juvenile justice system that

works best in protecting public safety and juvenile delinquents.

Juveniles are often faced with the debate of whether their case should be taken through

the system or if there are alternative programs that can be effective in reducing juvenile crime.

The increase of adolescent crime has increased and many states have implemented their own

system of how they deal with the cases. In recent years, crimes once considered trivial in nature

that schools and parents could easily handle informally have been increasingly turned over to law

enforcement officials and the criminal justice system for prosecution (Hazen). The increasing

amount of cases taken to juvenile courts have yielded many effects. Programs such as the

Juvenile Arbitration Program in Aiken County, South Carolina. This is one of many programs

that is beneficial to non-violent offenders to keep him or her out of the Court system. Within the

program a hearing is held with the offender and their family as well as the arresting police officer

and possibly the victim (Juvenile Arbitration). During the hearing, an appropriate punishment

is made in the interest of both parties, as well as the community, based off the facts of the case.

After the program, if the adolescent is deemed successful then the charges are dropped. If the
 Deese 2

child is determined to be unsuccessful then he or she will be forwarded to a Family Court to be

prosecuted (Juvenile Arbitration). Statistics from the South Carolina Juvenile Justice

Department have shown significant improvement of juveniles who go through the programs. The

Juvenile Arbitration Program has had a 91% success rate as well as 40,000 completed service

hours by the youth diverted into the program (Hazen). Both the juvenile court system and

programs such as the one in Aiken County have helped youth and the community. The severity of

the crime should be the determining factor of whether to send a juvenile through the court system

or place them in an alternate program.

The Supreme Court has made the decision to stop the sentencing of life without parole

for juveniles who are convicted of nonviolent crimes. This decision has rebalanced the juvenile

justice system giving nonviolent offenders and opportunity to improve themselves (Cohen).

With this being said, juveniles who commit serious crimes, such as murder, can still be sentenced

to life without parole in a court system. Juveniles can still be charged the same as an adult to be

held accountable for their actions. However, not all states have approved and implemented the

ruling into their own court system. According to statistics, no fewer than 37 states, Congress

and the District of Columbia all permit life sentences without parole for juveniles who have not

been convicted of murder (Cohen). The United States is not the only country that sentences

juvenile offenders to life without parole. Eleven other countries have implemented LWOP to

reduce crime rates and preserve the well being of their residents (Stimson). Many have argued

stopping the sentencing of life without parole has created a negative view of the justice system

making it seem weak. Opponents of tough sentences for serious juvenile offenders have been

working for years to get rid of life without parole. Supporters against LWOP often use to word

child or children to appeal to personal emotions rather than the facts at hand. Many
 Deese 2

misconstrue the public by adorning pictures of young children that look four to eight years old

when the youngest juvenile in the United States serving a life without parole is 14 years old. The

debates should be based on real facts and statistics, former unlawful actions by the juvenile,

public safety, and the obligations of the law (Stimson). In most states life without parole still

stands in place for any adolescent no matter the age or crime.

The juvenile court system was put in place to approach delinquent crimes and maintain

public safety. In each state across the country there is a juvenile justice system put in place that

follows the basic guidelines and outline for prosecuting a juvenile offender. Law enforcement

officials have worked to prevent unlawful acts and reduce juvenile detention. Arrangements such

as alternative programs have been put in place to benefit juveniles and guide them out of the

system. The juvenile court system is the most prominent system used to address and deal with

youth who are caught and convicted of crimes.