The document discusses the juvenile justice system. It notes that juveniles who commit crimes often have backgrounds involving abuse, neglect, or emotional/mental issues. Juvenile courts have the goal of rehabilitation and act in the best interests of youth. Most juvenile cases begin as arrests, while some are initiated by parents/schools. Juvenile courts can place abused youths with foster families and divert non-violent juveniles to rehabilitation programs instead of trials. Juveniles have some trial rights like legal counsel, though they do not receive jury trials, and their records can be cleared upon successful completion of probation.

1. For use with section 16.3

2. NOTE: there are no guarantees, only that statistics show
that of those who commit crime, there is a
disproportionate number of people with the following
circumstances
 abuse
 neglect
 emotionally or mentally troubled

3.  juveniles are tried in different courts (juvenile court)
 some older juveniles who are charged with serious
crimes or are repeat offenders may be tried as adults.
 the main goal of the juvenile system is rehabilitation
 the guiding principle is to do whatever is in the best
interest of the young people
 3/4 of juvenile cases begin as arrests
 1/4 are the result of a petition from a parent, school
administrator, or other person in contact with the
child

4. neglect cases
 when juveniles are abused by their caregivers
 juvenile court has the power to place these youths with
other families in foster homes

5. delinquency cases
 when a juvenile commits a crime or an act considered
illegal for a juvenile (though not for an adult)

6. A. Diversion or Detention
 once arrested and parents notified, the juvenile may be
sent home or kept in a juvenile detention center until it
is time to appear in court
 special officers specifically for juvenile cases will try to
divert non-violent youngsters away from the court and
into rehabilitation programs:
 counseling
 job-training
 drug-treatment
 some diverted juveniles will be detained at first while
the court decides what to do

7. B. The Trial
1) Preliminary Hearing
 to determine if there is probable cause to believe the young
person committed the crime as charged

8. B. The Trial
2) Trial
 juveniles do not have the right to a jury trial
 the identity of the juvenile is kept secret (a sealed record)
 consists of the juvenile, parents/caregiver, lawyer, judge,
arresting officer, probation officer (who investigated the case)
 if a juvenile is found to be delinquent, the court holds
another hearing to decide the sentence

9. B. The Trial
3) Punishments
 stern lecture from the judge
 special training school
 reformatory
 treatment center
 teen shelter
 if the juvenile successfully completes probation the charges
will be dropped and the matter removed from their record

10. A. Precedent from In re Gault
 parents/guardians must be notified of the arrest as soon
as possible
 juvenile and parents/guardians must be notified in
writing of what they’ve done
 juveniles have a right to legal counsel (a lawyer)
 right to confront witnesses
 protection from self-incrimination