Juvenile Adjudication

Juvenile adjudication refers to the process of judging and sentencing individuals under the age of eighteen – or in some cases, under the age of sixteen – who have been accused of committing a crime. This is known as juvenile delinquency. Crime is defined as a violation of federal or state law in the United States and applies equally to both juveniles and adults. However, juvenile adjudication allows persons under the age of eighteen to be judged differently than adults, on the premise that they are not mature enough to fully understand their actions. In addition, children do not have the same constitutional rights that adults have when accused of committing a crime. The juvenile adjudication process takes all of this into account in order to fairly judge, sentence, and rehabilitate juvenile delinquents.

Legal Background

It has been more than 100 years since the first juvenile court was established in the United States. In 1974, The Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Act (JJDA) took effect, creating what is known as the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention within the Department of Justice. The JJDA also ordered three important clauses: deinstitutionalization, segregation, overrepresentation of minorities, and jail and lockup removal. Deinstitutionalization refers to young persons charged with offenses that wouldn’t be considered crimes if they were committed by adults. These include possession of tobacco and alcohol, running away, and truancy. Police officers may not hold minors for these offenses. Segregation ensures that detained minors are not held in the same facilities as adults. Similarly, jail and lockup removal ensures that minors serving prison time do not do so in prisons where adults are held. Finally, the overrepresentation of minorities asks that the number of a particular minority group being held is representative of the proportion of that group among the general population.

Affected Groups

The term “juvenile” most often refers to someone who is under the age of eighteen. In some states, however, it only extends to young adults under the age of sixteen. Those over the age limit are treated as adults by the justice system. In cases of more serious or violent crimes, a juvenile may be tried as an adult. The juvenile delinquent system is committed to trying adolescents fairly. Research suggests that many juvenile delinquents are essentially funneled into prison from birth, in what is referred to as the “Cradle to Prison Pipeline.” Poverty, inequitable access to education, and poor parental guidance can make a juvenile more likely to turn to crime. While many believe that committing a crime is a choice, there are many factors that make an individual more likely to commit a crime. This phenomenon is especially visible in minority communities including African Americans and Latinos. Part of the role of the juvenile delinquent system includes providing those at risk or those who have already committed crimes with access to education and jobs, so that they do not end up spending their adult lives in the prison system.

Challenges

The goal of juvenile adjudication is to give youth a fair chance when they get into trouble with the law. However, it is more effective to focus efforts on prevention, as there are viable ways to lessen the likelihood that a child will become delinquent in the first place. For instance, providing parents with employment opportunities and work-related training can have a positive effect. Children must be encouraged to stay in school and pursue education and career goals. Families that are at risk are encouraged to access social services, including counseling and rehabilitation programs if the need is there. All of these factors decrease the likelihood that the child will end up in the prison system.