Delinquency Status Offenses

Juvenile delinquency: an act committed by a minor that violates the penal code of the government with authority over the area in which the act occurs (Bartollas and Schmalleger, 2008) pg.2. In chapter one, we are introduced to what a juvenile delinquent is, and all of the issues that come along with them. This chapter goes on to define adolescents which is “the life interval between childhood and adulthood, and usually the period between the ages of twelve and eighteen.” It is said that “those

Additionally, the juvenile justice system has become increasingly focused on the offense. Traditionally the juvenile court looked primarily at the offender, and what brought the young offender to court without focusing exclusively on the offense. The court has shifted, becoming much more offense based. Sentences are closely tied to the charges, and more and more cases qualify for the juvenile to be sentenced in the adult system. After serious strives to decriminalize status offenses, they are now being considered gateways into delinquent charges. The number of “children in need of services” or CHINS has also risen in the last decade. There is a lack of resources to provide CHINS with necessary services. As a consequence many of these

Reform struggles began in the 1960’s and it had changed the appearance of the juvenile justice system. New York passed legislation in 1962 which made a family court system. This court system took on the responsibility for all concerns which involves family life and heavy concentration on delinquent and neglected youths. The PINS (person in need of supervision) and CHINS (children in need of supervision) were also created by legislation which contains issues like truancy. When utilizing these labels it sets jurisdiction over youth, juvenile courts extended their roles as social agencies. The 1960’s and 70’s the juvenile justice system was changed when it released cycles of decisions that established the right of juveniles to receive due process of law as mentioned above. The goals of were to a) remove youths from incarceration at adult prisons, b) eliminate incarceration of delinquents and status offenders. In 1994, the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act provide 100,000 police officers and billions of dollars for prisons and prevention programs for adults and youth offenders, (Siegel, L.J., & Welsh, B. C., 2012). The juvenile justice system today maneuvers jurisdiction over delinquents and status offender. The delinquent youth fall under jurisdictional age limit which is different from state to state and the condition of act committed in violation of penal code. Status offenders are defined as youths in need of supervision.

According to medicinenet.com, alcohol is the number one most frequently used drugs by teens in the United States. When minors drink alcohol, most of them don't understand the ramifications it can have on them in the future, their families, and when driving, their communities. This is the exact reason why these laws were put in place, to help diminish the possibility of minors getting addicted or hurting themselves and/or other people.

The determinate sentencing system provides juvenile judges with tremendous flexibility in ensuring that offenders are held accountable for their crimes, that public safety is protected, and that youth have the opportunity to become rehabilitated and turn their lives around. Determinate sentencing, under some circumstances, also provides juvenile judges with the opportunity to take a “second look” at the youth when he or she reaches adult age, so that the judge can re-evaluate the youth’s risk to public safety at that point (Deitch, 2011).

Juvenile delinquency incorporates two general types of behaviors. Status offenses is one of the general types of behaviors that are considered harmful or inappropriate for the children and adolescents. The behavior is consider harmful and inappropriate because of the age of the offender. An example of a status offense would be running away from home, ditching school, violating curfew, and smoking or drinking. As a result, this puts the burden on the parent to take care of their child. However, if an adult commits the behavior it’s considered not illegal. Though, there are parents that don’t care for their children causing this to be a serious issue.

According to Juvenile Courts, a juvenile is classified into three different groups. The first group is considered a Delinquent. A Delinquent is a person who is under age (usually below 18), who is found to have committed a crime in states that have declared by law that a minor lacks responsibility and thus may not be sentenced as an adult (Legal Dictionary). Another term a juvenile can be referred to be a status offender. A status offender is a juvenile charged with or adjudicated for conduct that would not, under the law of the jurisdiction in which the offense was committed, be a crime if committed by an adult (Act 4 Juvenile Justice). Finally a Juvenile can be identified as a dependent and neglected child. These are usually youth that are deprived and in need of support and supervision (Cliff Notes)

The purpose of juvenile justice delinquency prevention act of 1974, was to distinguish the separation of juveniles from adult offenders and courts, because crimes that a juvenile commit isn’t fully responsible from what is most likely a status offense. Certain states has age differences to be tried as an adult which some states consider 16 and old or 18 as an adult age. The act had modifications done too it to make it better for juveniles courts is its own court. During the 1980’s states had to refrain from juveniles for being locked out city/county jails. This was due to lack of resources from the offender and making it harder on the jail officer to process them in the system. It is found that it is harder for them to identify juveniles without

Today, the juvenile system primary goals are crime reduction and rehabilitation. The juvenile officials must assess whether youthful offenders are likely to commit crimes in the future and whether they can benefit from interventions. If these kids cannot benefit, then they will most like end up a delinquent. In most states delinquency is defined as the commission of a criminal act by a child who was under the age of 18 at that time (Virginia Rules). Most states allow youth to remain under the supervision of the juvenile court until the age of 21, but this depends on the type of crime that was committed. There has been many times where a juvenile case was transferred to an adult criminal court. This would have to be done thru a process called a waiver. A waiver is when a judge waives the protections that the juvenile court provides (Larry J. Siegel). Cases that

What is the difference between delinquency and a status offense and give one example of each.

Approximately two million adolescents a year are arrested and out of that two million, 60,000 of them are incarcerated according to the American Journal of Public Health. The 60,000 incarcerated adolescents each year are being tried as adults in court because of the serious crimes they have committed. The crimes they have committed are anything from armed robbery to murder. Some juveniles might be first time offenders and others might be repeat offenders. Crimes have always been a major issue in the United States and can cause controversy in the criminal justice system. Charging a minor as an adult in criminal court varies from state to state based on each state’s jurisdiction. Some states consider anyone up to the age of 18 still a juvenile and would not be charged as an adult in criminal court, but other states may charge a juvenile as an adult at the age of 16 or 17. Jordan (2014) states, “Although states already had methods for transferring youth to the adult system, as a result of the growing fear of juvenile violence, most states implemented new laws to increase the number of youth entering the adult criminal system’ (Bernard & Kurlychek, 2010; Torbet et al., 1996)” (p. 315). While it sounds beneficial to incarcerate more adolescents in the adult criminal justice system to avoid juveniles from committing crimes in the future, that is not always the case. Incarcerating these juveniles can be life changing in a negative

Two of Dr. Chafes primary points were that individualism challenged the normal and Christianity was practiced once a week worship. For entrepreneurs, individualism meant that one could begin to explore their own individual aspirations and be creative with no limits. “The natural result of individualism is innovation. It’s led to an invention, agricultural revolution, the industrial revolution, and affordable necessities and luxuries. None of this would have been possible if individuals weren't encouraged to think independently and create new things and keep some of the wealth from what they built” (Abbo, 2015).

As more minors are committing violent crimes, the question of whether they should be tried as adults has arisen. Children as young as 13 or 14 are committing violent crimes such as murder, rape, and armed robbery. Some of these children are being tried as adults while others are being tried as juveniles and receiving milder punishments. A juvenile offender may receive a few years in a juvenile detention facility and possibly probation following his release at age eighteen. An adult committing the same violent crime will receive a much harsher penalty, often years in jail, possibly a life sentence, with little or no chance of parole. The only difference between the two offenders is the age at which they committed the crime. Juveniles over

“According to the U.S. Justice Department, 83 percent of court referrals came from law enforcement agents in 2009.” (U.S. Justice Department,2009).Other arrests were deemed by the schools the offenders attended, the parents, the victims of the crime, and probation officers, if the offender had one. Under federal law, officers who had detained young offenders had to keep them secure while they were in custody for a period of no more than six hours. However, juvenile arrest procedures may differ depending on the police department. Police officers handle noncriminal behavior involving juveniles, Which is known as status offenses. For example, a juvenile who skips school, runs away from home and violates or have violated their curfew are all status offenses. The police may also intervene in