A 12-year-old boy sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl he was acquainted with. The girl's 16-year-old brother arrived home and witnessed the assault, and the girl was almost unconscious when police arrived. The 12-year-old boy was arrested and charged with attempted sexual assault of a minor, aggravated assault, possession of alcohol and marijuana. He came from a single parent home and was often alone after school. The boy claimed the acts were consensual and the girl had provided the drugs and alcohol.

1. A 12-year-old boy was caught in the act of sexually assaulting a
14-year-old female acquaintance by the victim's 16-year-old
brother, who had arrived home and observed the juveniles in the
act. The 12-year-old juvenile suspect, in addition to sexually
assaulting the victim, had beaten her with the heel of a shoe that
was nearby. The victim was almost unconscious when the police
arrived.
Following the incident, the juvenile was arrested and detained
by local police on the following charges:
Attempted sexual assault of a minor
Aggravated assault
Minor in possession of an alcoholic beverage
Unlawful possession of a controlled substance (marijuana)
The juvenile suspect was a latchkey kid, a child who returns
from school to an empty home, from a single-parent home. His
mother works from 2 p.m–11 p.m. Monday through Friday, so
the juvenile is often alone for hours upon his return from
school.
After a preliminary examination, the juvenile suspect explained
that the victim purchased the marijuana and the alcohol earlier
that same day. The juvenile explained that the victim had
invited him to her house because they had "been liking each
other" for a long time. Further, the juvenile explained that the
alcohol and drugs were in the home when he arrived. He said
that he and the victim began by smoking marijuana and drinking
beer before they began kissing and fondling one another. Next,
according to the juvenile suspect, they started to have what he
described as consensual sex. After a short while they were
interrupted by the victim's brother, who had come home from
work. The victim’s brother then called the police to report the
incident.
The juvenile had prior detentions for violation of curfew,
truancy, and attempted sexual battery. No further explanations
are given.
Assignment:

2. Write an essay from the perspective of each of the following.
Perspective of the
police officer
What happens to this juvenile before he even goes to juvenile
court?
Perspective of the state's attorney
Make suggestions to the court on how the boy should be
punished/sentenced.
Perspective of the judge
Based on the facts of the case and procedures of the juvenile
justice system, what would be the most appropriate finding for
the court?
Social norms are a mix of informal—often unspoken—rules,
guides, and standards of behavior. These nonlegal rules and
obligations are followed and fulfilled in part because failure to
do so brings upon the transgressor such social sanctions as
induced feelings of guilt or shame, gossip, shunning, ostracism,
and not infrequently, violence (O’Donnell, 2007).
Some states include status offenders in the same category as
juvenile delinquents. Other states place status offenders into the
position of children, juveniles, or minors in need of supervision.
Do you believe status offenders and juvenile delinquents should
be treated the same?