Essay on Ramifications of the Juvenile Justice Waiver

Social workers in the court room play an major role in helping to decide whether or not a child should be charged as an adult for committing a crime while a minor. A minor being sent to juvenile court does not necessarily mean that the minor will be tried as an juvenile. It is also the responsibility of the court to determine if the minor should stay in juvenile court of be moved into adult criminal court. A social work assigned to the minor as well as the defense attorney, prosecutor, and judge will argue in court to decide the minors fate. This social policy that is used in the court system is known as the Juvenile Justice Waiver. The Juvenile Justice Waiver is the practice of transferring jurisdiction over a juvenile from juvenile or†¦show more content†¦In some states there are similarity to this historical â€Å"Common Law Principle of Responsibility†. As to be expected, states have different laws regarding matters of juveniles. Many states vary when determining whether or not a children should be tried as an adult or what the minimum or maximum ages courts must follow or what crimes they are allowed try are. Taking Illinois for example, the set age required by law for a children to be transferred into adult court is seventeen. However, in Illinois there is a major exception to this rule. State law changes the minimum age to fifteen when crimes of murder of the first degree, aggravated sexual assault, armed robbery, robbery with possession of a firearm, and use of weapons on school grounds are committed (Carp, Stidham, and Manning, 67). Illinois considers these offenses the most serious. Another type of waiver that can take place is a waiver into teen court. 300 different jurisdictions are experimenting with this idea. Teen court is a helpful alternative to juvenile court. This court also helps keeps the labeling stigma of convict off of a juvenile offender. These courts typically handle juvenile offenders between the ages of ten and fifte en who are being charges with minor violations such as disorderly conduct, shoplifting, and other types of criminal mischief. Most of these juvenile offenders have no prior arrest record and have never done anything wrong before in their lives. These juvenilesShow MoreRelatedJuveniles in the News Report 1220 Words   |  5 Pagesface that he has every day, which was the freakiest part, He wasnt saying anything. He didnt have any anger on his face. It was just a blank expression. (AP, 2014). Hribal’s attorney has expressed that he doesn’t think Hribal is aware of the ramifications that have and will occur as a result of his actions. ...We have to make sure that he understands the nature of the charges and whats going on here. Its important that he be examined by a psychiatrist and determined where he is mentally. (CarterRead MoreJuveniles in the Criminal Justice System4671 Words   |  19 PagesShould Juvenile Offenders Be Tried As Adults? A Developmental Perspective on Changing Legal Policies Laurence Steinberg Temple University and The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Research Network on Adolescent Development and Juvenile Justice Paper presented as a part of a Congressional Research Briefing entitled â€Å"Juvenile Crime: Causes and Consequences,† Washington, January 19, 2000. Address correspondence to the author at the Department of Psychology, Temple University, PhiladelphiaRead More Children Tried as Adults Essay2241 Words   |  9 Pagesis eligible to go to an adult court or prison if proven guilty for an unpardonable crime. An example of this is in Alabama, where two males at age fourteen are currently spending life in prison for a murder, but to the non-profit group, the Equal Justice Initiative of Alabama it is cruel and unusual punishment and violates their human rights. The Supreme Court will soon decide their fate (MSNBC.com). Usually, it is those who are sixteen or seventeen that are tried as an adult because they have more