Juvenile Delinquency and Juvenile Crime
Jason Bailey
CJA/204
9/5/2014
Freddy Stansbury

Juvenile Processing The process in which a juvenile enters the justice system is relatively simple. It starts with an arrest by a law enforcement official. Other ways it can start is by a referral from a parent of a minor. Even schools, victims of the juvenile, and probation officers can make referrals as well. There are several factors to consider when a case officer makes a decision as to whether or not to detain and charge them, release them, or in some cases place them in a youth welfare program. The officer must make a determination based upon facts of the case and also the recommendations of parents or legal guardians. About fifty percent of all juvenile cases are heard informally and usually dismissed unless the circumstances are rather extreme. When a juvenile is arrested and detained, they cannot be allowed to remain in an adult facility for longer than six hours. They must then be moved to a juvenile secure detention facility or released to their legal guardian. At this point the juvenile will be seen through an informal hearing. In which the judge can either dismiss the case or make some stipulations for the juvenile to complete before the case is dismissed. Some of those things include restitution, mandatory curfew, school attendance, and drug rehabilitation if the juvenile is caught using drugs. If the case goes beyond an informal hearing, then a formal hearing will be held to determine the course of action that will be taken regarding trial in either juvenile or criminal court. Most states have laws that prevent juveniles from being tried in criminal court. However some states allow cases that involve more heinous crimes to be handled in criminal