The qualifications for declaring a minor as “juvenile” vary under different jurisdictions. In most cases, a juvenile is a person under the age of seventeen years. For juvenile offenders, the law is different from that which applies to adults.
When a juvenile is charged with an offense, he is sent to a special court called a juvenile court. The law focuses on rehabilitating such individuals, so that they have a chance to mend their ways. Often, juvenile offenders are called “delinquents”, as opposed to offenders. However, the legal system can study each case and act accordingly. If a juvenile offender is dangerous, he can be sentenced to prison. Juvenile court cases are usually decided upon by a judge, rather than by a jury.
In most cases, juvenile offenders are sent to juvenile detention centers, where they are rehabilitated. They can take up prison jobs (like gardening, kitchen staff member), or get access to education while in the detention center. In some cases, the inmates can get their high school diploma or college credits while in detention.
A juvenile offender who commits a serious crime can be “waived” from juvenile court to adult court. This usually applies in cases of homicide or sexual assault. After a preliminary hearing, where evidence is presented for and against a waiver, the judge decides which court the offender is to be tried in. A juvenile tried in adult court receives all the rights granted to an adult defendant. His fate will be decided by a jury rather than a judge. |
