Key Cases In Juvenile Justice Flashcards
This landmark case set the precedent that juvenile adjudications must be proven “beyond a reasonable doubt,” replacing earlier, less stringent standards like “preponderance of the evidence” and “clear and convincing proof.
In re Winship:
case lies in its distinction as the sole case among the first five where the U.S. Supreme Court did not mandate that juveniles be granted all the same due process rights as adults in criminal proceedings.
McKeiver v. Pennsylvania
This case established that a juvenile cannot face adjudication in a juvenile court and subsequently be tried for the same offense in an adult criminal court, thus protecting against double jeopardy.
Breed v. Jones
This case established the procedural guidelines for transferring juveniles to criminal court, as outlined by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Kent v. United States
He first encountered the juvenile court system at 14 after multiple housebreakings and an attempted purse snatching. At 16, his fingerprints were found at the scene of a robbery and rape.
Morris Kent
concerned a 15-year-old, already on probation, committed in Arizona as a delinquent after being apprehended upon a complaint of lewd remarks by telephone Mr. Justice Fortas, in writing for the Court, reviewed the cases just cited and observed.
In re Gault(1967)
emphasized that youth had a right to receive fair treatment under the law and pointed out the following rights of minors:
a. The right to receive notice of charges,
b. The right to obtain legal counsel,
c. The right to confrontation and cross-examination,
d. The privilege against self-incrimination,
e. The right to receive a transcript of the proceedings, and
f. The right to appellate review.
Justice Abe Fortas
The state’s authority to hold minors in preventative detention was maintained by the Supreme Court. By holding people who could pose a risk to themselves or society, preventive detention was seen as serving a legitimate governmental purpose in safeguarding adolescents and society,
Schall v. Martin (1984).
Decriminalizing Status Offenses It endorsed decriminalization of status offenses, urging that juvenile delinquency liability should include only such conduct as would be designated a crime if committed by an adult. In the 1980s, many training schools and high-security institutions were built in rural areas or close to small rural towns so the inmates could be trained in agriculture. The hope was that such training would produce productive citizens.
American Bar Association (1977)
