Question

Criminal Justice 101:

Compare and contrast the juvenile justice system and the adult criminal case process. List and explain two similarities and four differences between them.

Answer 1

Juvenile justice systems deal with persons between 10 to 18 years of age in most of the states while some states consider the individuals from 10 to 16 as juvenile. Any one more than this age limit is considered under adult criminal process. The main similarities between juvenile and adult systems are

1.In both adult and juvenile system, the guilt must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt for conviction, else the defendant is not considered as guilty if the prosecution fails to establish the same.

2. Both the systems provide the privilege against self incrimination. According to Fifth Amendment of constitution, no person shall be compelled to be a witness against oneself in criminal case. Both adult and juvenile systems provide with the rights to prevent the individual from being forced to provide the evidence.

The differences are

1.The adults are provided with penalties to ensure that they do not repeat the crime in future. But juvenile system does not have penalties and the juvenile is taken into custody for the entire time during court procedure.

2. Juveniles do not have the right to a jury while adults have the right to select jury when it goes for trial. Most of the juvenile cases are heard in front of a judge and the judge decides on whether the juvenile has committed the act.

3. The violation committed by the juvenile is considered to have less seriousness in nature and is generally accused of delinquent act. But cases related to adults are considered more seriously and are referred as crimes.

4. Juvenile systems focus on rehabilitation while adult systems focus on punishment. The adults are sentenced when they are found guilty. But in the case of juvenile system, case is disposed of and the juvenile is sent to the rehabilitation centers.