Helping Public Servants and The Courts Balance the Scales of Justice for Young People, and Their Communities;
And to Provide Them With Second-Chance Opportunities for Brighter Futures.
"We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children."
- Native-American Proverb
The underlying rationales of the juvenile court system are that youth are developmentally different from adults and that their behavior is malleable. Rehabilitation and treatment, in addition to community protection, are considered to be primary and viable goals. Limitations are placed on public access to juvenile records because of the belief that juvenile offenders can be successfully rehabilitated, and to avoid their unnecessary stigmatization. Court proceedings may be confidential to protect privacy.
The juvenile justice system follows a psychological casework approach, taking into account a detailed assessment of the youth's history in order to meet his or her specific needs. The juvenile offender faces a hearing, rather than a trial, which incorporates his social history as well as legal factors.
Not all states afford juveniles the right to a jury trial. A juvenile offender is judged "delinquent" rather than "guilty." And because of the individualized nature of the juvenile justice system, sentencing varies and may cover a wide range of community-based and residential options. The disposition is based on the individual's offense history and the severity of the offense, and includes a significant rehabilitation component.
The disposition can be for an unspecified period of time; the court can send a youth to a certain facility or program until it is determined s/he is rehabilitated, or until s/he reaches the age of majority. The disposition may also include a restitution component and can be directed at people other than the offender, for example the parents. Parole combines surveillance with activities to reintegrate the juvenile into the community.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/juvenile/stats/juvvsadult.html
