Juvenile Justice System Structure & Process
explore the juvenile justice system as a separate jurisdiction.
Prompt
Jurisdictions provide the courts with authority to make legal decisions or administer justices within a certain area. Often, these jurisdictions are determined based on geographic location, but sometimes there are other factors that go into determining jurisdiction. For example, the United States recognizes that juveniles involved with the criminal justice system have different needs and as such fall under the juvenile justice jurisdiction.
In this assignment, you will explore the juvenile justice system as a separate jurisdiction. Using the Module Two Assignment template, in 50–150 words for each question, explore the juvenile court’s jurisdiction and answer each of the following:
Why does this court exist?
What is the importance of its jurisdictional difference?
What are some of the issues that can arise from this jurisdiction?
Specifically, the following rubric criteria must be addressed:
Explain why this court exists.
Describe the importance of its jurisdictional difference.
Describe some of the issues that can arise from this jurisdiction.
Supporting Materials:
Template: Use the Module Two Assignment template Word Document to complete this assignment.
Case Flow Diagram: Juvenile Justice System Structure & Process
Sample Solution
The juvenile court exists to handle cases involving minors, typically those under the age of 18. The purpose of the juvenile justice system is to provide a rehabilitative approach to youth offenders and ensure young people are given due process, rather than being treated as criminals. The importance of its jurisdictional difference lies in its primary focus on rehabilitation over punishment, as well as its ability to tailor sentences which meet the particular needs of each case. This means that juveniles can receive individualized care and attention, with punishments designed to help them learn from their mistakes and become productive members of society.
Unlike adult criminal courts where incarceration is almost always used for serious crimes, juvenile courts recognize that minors should have access to resources that can help them overcome issues such as poverty or mental health issues. They also provide restorative justice options such as community service or counseling instead of prison time so that young people’s needs are addressed in a constructive way (DuBois et al., 2020). As opposed to adult criminal courts where judges are limited by law when it comes to sentencing flexibility, juvenile courts allow for creative sentencing tailored specifically for each situation. By understanding the minor’s background and unique circumstances more thoroughly than an adult criminal court might be able to do, these sentencing alternatives provide opportunities for youth offenders who otherwise would not have been offered such chances (LifeCourse Initiative & National Center For Juvenile Justice [LCI], 2020).
Furthermore, because these sentences often involve some kind of involvement within the community they live in—which may include participation in local programs like job training or educational assistance—it provides an opportunity for communities at large to invest in its own future generations while providing guidance and support systems tailored specifically towards helping young people stay out of trouble (Steinberg et al., 2017). Ultimately, this helps reduce recidivism rates among juveniles while providing them with better opportunities going forward into adulthood.
