chapter 13 Flashcards
juvenile court clients
delinquents (minors committed a crime) status offenders (MINOS) neglected, abused, abandoned
judge
Central character in the court of juvenile or family law
Respond to community pressures
Must provide proper and necessary resources to ensure care
Judges lower on totem pole in terms of pristineness
prosecutor
bringing the state’s case against the accused juvenile
some prosecutors can be the one to decide if the juvenile will be tried as an adult
has power to initiate or discontinue delinquency or status offense allegations
public DA
represents children in juvenile court and plays an active role at all stages of the proceedings
declare if there’s sufficient evidence to warrant filing a formal petition
private DA
paid out of pocket and more likely to have stronger relationships with clients
guardian ad litem
ordinarily seen in abuse, neglect and dependency cases
court appointed guardian to represent a minor or unborn child in litigation for need or particular treatment
CASA
court appointed special advocate
volunteers who advise the court about juvenile child placement
protect the rights to safe placement
probation officers
involved in all four stages of the court process
intake
3 options:
release the juvenile
place them under supervision
refer them elsewhere
diversion (to community agency)
adjustment
treatment program before formal trial
detention
taken into custody
released or released with a date to appear before court hearing
petition filed
initiates formal action against a juvenile charged with delinquency or a status offense
waiver hearing
transferring from juvenile to adult court, typically filed by a judge but sometime a prosecutor
adjudication
hearing
disposition
treatment best suited for the juvenile community release out of home placement fines/ restitution community service institutionalization
judicial waiver criteria
Offense type and seriousness
Offender prior record, age/ maturity level, amenability to treatment
Judicial policy merit of complaint
indeterminate sentence
No fixed confined time
Release determined by correction agency OR reaching legal age (18/21)
mandatory sentence
Part of “get tough policies (1980’s to 1990’s)
DOES NOT impose juvenile and adult sanctions for offenders adjudicated in either juvenile court or convicted in adult court.
blended sentence
Part of “get tough policies (1980’s to 1990’s)
Impose juvenile and adult sentences on serious/ repeat offenders convicted in either juvenile or adult courts
washington’s juvenile justice reform act 1977
Mandatory sentences proportional to age (8-17), offense type, and prior history
created an elaborated mandatory sentence system to punish adjudicated delinquents.
juvenile court criticisms
overburdened (too many cases)
too soft/ too harsh
