Juvenile Sentencing and Court Reports

Exam Content

Scenario: Imagine you are a probation officer who has been tasked with creating a report to share with the key personnel of the local school district to build awareness about laws and court processes that impact local court juvenile sentencing.

Write a report that consists of 2 parts:

Part 1: Data Visualization

Research statistics on populations of juvenile delinquents using the OJJDP’s Easy Access to Juvenile Court Statistics (EZAJCS) data tool for national data on juvenile delinquency demographics, offenses, and case processing trends.

(Here’s the link): https://www.ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/ezajcs/

Choose 1 of the following options to investigate:

How 1 year’s delinquency case totals compare to another year’s totals based on the age at referral, manner of handling, and disposition

How 1 year’s case processing totals compare to another year for 2 types of offenses and how they vary for different demographic groups and genders

Create a visual representation of the data that shows a comparison of both groups, such as a chart, graphic image, diagram, or infographic. Do not use a table. Instead, select a visually appealing layout that your community would find easy to read and understand.

Create an image for your data visualization using an illustration tool in Microsoft® Word or PowerPoint®.

Part 2: Executive Summary

Write an executive summary of your findings in 250 to 525 words. Complete the following in your summary:

Explain the data shown in your image. Summarize what the difference in the numbers means for juvenile sentencing in courts.

Categorize the types of offenses that come under acts of delinquency and status offenses in juvenile courts.

Describe in detail the court process applicable for either type of offense and the court personnel associated with each process?

Format your summary consistent with APA guidelines. Minimum 1 scholarly reference is required.

ANSWER

Juvenile Sentencing and Court Reports

Data Visualization

The OJJDP’s Easy Access to Juvenile Court Statistics (EZAJCS) that offers national data on juvenile delinquency offenses, demographics and processing trends. The data above shows the number of delinquency cases that have been process by the national juvenile courts. The analysis allows adequate analysis on sex, age and race of the juveniles involved in the cases and the referral offenses, adjunction, detention and case disposition.

The table above shows the difference in delinquency case totals between 2018 and 2019 on the basis of age referral, disposition and manner of handling. The data shows that 2018 had a high number of delinquency cases for juveniles at the age of 16. The juvenile cases analyzed were handled in a formal manner and the juvenile disposition being probation. According to the statistics, in 2019, there were 48,262 cases while in 2018 there were 53,666. The data shows that the juvenile cases were higher in 2018 as compared to 2018 among juveniles at the age of 16.

Types of offenses that come under acts of delinquency and status offenses in juvenile courts.

Acts of delinquency are committed by juvenile for which an individual can be prosecuted in a criminal court but within the juveniles they are prosecuted within the juvenile court (Kratcoski et al., 2019). Therefore, the delinquent offenses tend to violate the legal status that can also be applied in adults’ criminal justice system. Delinquent acts include crime that goes against public order, rape, murder, forgery, weapon violations, drug offenses, and stealing property such as motor vehicle theft, house burglary and dame of property.

The status offenses is a non-criminal behavior that is considered as violation only because of their youth status (Kratcoski et al., 2019). Children and adolescents tend to experiment with behaviors that are not considered pro-social and positive such as being truant, lying and defying patents. Such experimentation Status offending behavior signifies some underlying familial, personal, systematic and community issues which are linked to the risks factors of the general offending. Ideally, some of the status offenses can lead to delinquency later putting the youths at a higher risk of victimization, drug use and engagement in other risky behaviors. Some of the typical offenses under the status offenses include running away from home, truancy, and general governability, underage use of drugs and alcohol as well as violation of curfew.

Court Process

The court process for status offense begins involves summons and notice to the parent. The court proceedings often involve probationary period where the parents may be demanded to come back on weekly basis for status checks to ensure that the juvenile is doing everything as agreed upon. If the child fails to meet the probation requirements a legal action may be taken. The judges are involved in the court proceedings while the probation officer helps the child in addressing the behaviors they are charged with.

The court process of a delinquent act begins with a detention hearing which the initial hearing is done. Various issues may be handled such as denial of allegations, juvenile admission and determination of the youth’s status of detention. The judge determines whether the youth can competently stand trials. The court offers options at the first stage such as involuntary or formal probation or initiation of the process of filing a petition (Butts and Singer, 2013). In most cases the petition is filed by the probation officer or the intake officer. The court may also issue a waiver schedule before proceeding to adjudication. The adjudicatory hearing is the conducted to determine whether the youth is guilty or the case should be dismissed. The judge can also decide on probation or other alternatives such as referring the youth to a treatment program. The judge is involved in detention and adjudicatory hearing while the court intake officer and probation officer is involved in filing a petition.

References

Butts, J., & Singer, S. (2013). Current practice in the juvenile justice system. Reforming juvenile justice: A developmental approach, 49-88.

Kratcoski, P. C., Kratcoski, L. D., & Kratcoski, P. C. (2019). Juvenile delinquency: Theory, research, and the juvenile justice process. Springer Nature.