Lenient Verbal Alternatives For Juveniles

الجمعة، 6 يناير 2017

By Melissa Evans


A juvenile crime is where the accused is below the age of majority. This age is 18 years in most states. The system of sentencing juvenile offenders is different from that used on adults. The intentions of sentencing are rehabilitation and education other than punishment. This is why there exist verbal alternatives for juveniles. The intention is to keep minors away from prison or incarceration facilities.

Juvenile sentencing falls under two major categories. The judge may opt for incarceration or non-incarceration options. Incarceration involves, among others, detention in juvenile halls. The stay is short with the option of probation or parole. Judges also impose house arrests where the minors are only allowed to attend school or go to work. These are secure juvenile facilities commonly known as camps. The stay here is longer, running for months or years. It is mostly for offenders who commit serious crimes.

Minors may be tried as adults due to the seriousness of their crimes. They will be sent to an adult jail. For their own safety, they are detained in juvenile camps and later transferred upon hitting majority age. The judge may opt to place the minor under the care of another person apart from the known guardian or parent. Placement may also be in a group home.

Punishment and rehabilitation of juveniles provides non-incarceration options. This is under the diversionary program designed to keep offending minors away from the trauma of incarceration. The judge issues a verbal warning where failure to adhere to these warnings will attract serious conviction. In most cases, the warnings are issued for minor offenses.

There are fines for juveniles aimed at recovering the value of damaged goods. Some of the fines are paid to the government. Minors may be required to perform a certain number of community service hours. They are supervised and mostly carried out over weekends to avoid disrupting school. Counseling accompanies most incarceration and some non-incarceration sentences. The justice system is also increasingly using bracelets and anklets to monitor offending minors.

The sentence an offender receives is determined by the judge. There are presidents that can be used to determine the intensity of punishment and thus establish whether one is incarcerated or not. Individual circumstances will be considered when making a determination.

The need for a lawyer cannot be overemphasized since appearing before a judge requires defense. To be on the safe side, contact a lawyer regardless of the expected judgment. Discuss with the lawyer the options available based on the crime committed and willingness of relatives or guardians to be partners in rehabilitation. There is no crime where a verbal warning is a must. The judge has the right to determine the sentence.

The warning or sentence pronounced must not be taken lightly. It holds as much weight as that which is written or involves incarceration. The guardian, parents, defense team and probation officers must work together to ensure that the instructions given by the judge are adhered to. This sentence may be reversed if guardians, parents or the offender is not willing to adhere to laid rules.




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