Juvenile Justice System Process - Essay Example

During the decision making stage, where the arresting officer is still trying to make contact with the parents or making transfer arrangements, federal regulations require that the juvenile being held at adult penitentiaries be kept away from adult inmates (Neubauer & Fradelia, 2009). The law also stipulates that they should be removed from the adult facilities within six hours of arrest. The third stage is the transfer of the case to the juvenile probation department. Here the intake officer will then make a decision whether to dismiss the case, handle it informally or he may propose a formal hearing.

Most of the Juvenile cases about 50 percent of them are dismissed (Neubauer & Fradelia, 2009). The probation officer has to review all the facts about the case during this stage and determine whether there is sufficient information to try the youth. If there is adequate evidence the case may be heard informally or formally depending on the available facts otherwise the case is dropped. While awaiting trial the juvenile is required by law to be detained in a secure facility. A judge often decides if the juvenile should be detained before and during the course of the trial.

The officer also explains the intent of the detention in a detention hearing that takes place within 24 hours of arrest (Martin, 2005). The fourth stage is either informal, formal hearing or disposition. An informal hearing will be granted by a judge if the juvenile pleads guilty and agrees to settle the charges brought against him through acceptance to meet the courts requirements which may be: restitution, mandatory curfew, school attendance or rehabilitation (NCJRS, 2000). The juvenile is then released but will be monitored by a probation officer.

In formal hearings a decision is made where the case will be heard and this may be in a juvenile or criminal court. Most of the cases will be heard in a juvenile court but egregious offenses will be tried in criminal courts (Neubauer & Fradelia, 2009). Recommendations The juvenile system process varies within states but the above mentioned process is a standard procedure that is supposed to be followed. The problem is that the process is rarely followed. I would recommend that all states adopt the same process so that it becomes uniform.

Secondly some states detain juveniles for over six hours in adult penitentiaries. This should stop because the minors go through a rough time in the cells and this affects them psychologically. Third I would also recommend system wide changes in terms of facilities and officers trained to facilitate the whole process. References Martin, G. (2005). Juvenile Justice: Process and Systems. Thousand Oaks, Carlifonia: Sage Publications. NCJRS. (2000). Juvenile Justice System Structure and Process. Retrieved March 26, 2012, from NCJRS: https://www.ncjrs.gov/html/ojjdp/nationalreport99/chapter4.

pdf Neubauer, D. W., & Fradelia, H. F. (2009). America's Courts and the Criminal Justice System. New York: Cengage