Juvenile Delinquents Tried as Adults
Abstract
Through many different sources of research, I have come with a strong argument that states that juvenile delinquents should be treated as teenagers and not as an adult. Many will argue that everyone should be treated the same but evidence shows that courts have always treated crimes by a case to case study.
Introduction
In the law, a juvenile is defined as a person who is not old enough to be held responsible for criminal acts. In most states the normal age is 18. In Wyoming a juvenile is a person under the age of 19. In some states a juvenile is a person under the age of 17, and in Connecticut, New York, and North Carolina, a juvenile is a person under the age of 16. These age definitions are significant because they determine whether a teenager accused of criminal conduct will be charged with a crime in adult court or will be required to appear in juvenile court (Bower, 2007). Juvenile courts generally have authority over three categories of children: juveniles accused of criminal conduct; juveniles neglected or abused by their parents or in need of assistance from the state; and juveniles accused of a status offense. This last category refers to the behavior that is prohibited only to children, such as absence from school , runaway from home, disobedience of reasonable parental controls, and purchase of alcohol, tobacco, or pornography (Musiani, 2006). Children in need of services are ones who are not abused or neglected but are needy in some other way. These children are usually from impoverished homes and require improved nutrition and basic health care. The question here is should children under a certain age, be tried for a crime as an adult or should they remain in the juvenile system.
Background
Juvenile crime is a serious problem. The facts are grim: the number of juvenile murderers has tripled to 3,100 since 1984, and 125,000 youths are charged each year with a serious violent crime (Nair, 2009). One in five people are arrested for a
Through many different sources of research, I have come with a strong argument that states that juvenile delinquents should be treated as teenagers and not as an adult. Many will argue that everyone should be treated the same but evidence shows that courts have always treated crimes by a case to case study.
Introduction
In the law, a juvenile is defined as a person who is not old enough to be held responsible for criminal acts. In most states the normal age is 18. In Wyoming a juvenile is a person under the age of 19. In some states a juvenile is a person under the age of 17, and in Connecticut, New York, and North Carolina, a juvenile is a person under the age of 16. These age definitions are significant because they determine whether a teenager accused of criminal conduct will be charged with a crime in adult court or will be required to appear in juvenile court (Bower, 2007). Juvenile courts generally have authority over three categories of children: juveniles accused of criminal conduct; juveniles neglected or abused by their parents or in need of assistance from the state; and juveniles accused of a status offense. This last category refers to the behavior that is prohibited only to children, such as absence from school , runaway from home, disobedience of reasonable parental controls, and purchase of alcohol, tobacco, or pornography (Musiani, 2006). Children in need of services are ones who are not abused or neglected but are needy in some other way. These children are usually from impoverished homes and require improved nutrition and basic health care. The question here is should children under a certain age, be tried for a crime as an adult or should they remain in the juvenile system.
Background
Juvenile crime is a serious problem. The facts are grim: the number of juvenile murderers has tripled to 3,100 since 1984, and 125,000 youths are charged each year with a serious violent crime (Nair, 2009). One in five people are arrested for a
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