In the criminal justice system, there are cases involving adults and juveniles, and the laws present different classifications, guidelines, and procedures for handling the cases. If accused of a crime, the offenders must review the laws based on their age and the classification of the crime.
The Age Differences and Classifications
Juveniles and adults are not managed in the same manner in the criminal justice system. Anyone under the age of majority or who isn’t a legal adult according to their state is classified as a juvenile. Any party that is the age of majority or older is classified as an adult.
All underage offenders are processed through the juvenile court, and adults are managed through the criminal court. When reviewing juvenile justice system differences, offenders learn more about how the laws apply to their cases and what regulations could affect the outcome.
Arrested or Taken Into Custody
Adults are arrested by law enforcement officers, and juveniles are taken into custody. The booking process is different and even though the underage offender faces criminal charges, the individuals aren’t arrested in the same manner as an adult. Adults will go to the county jail, and underage offenders go to juvenile detention centers.
Posting Bail or Bond
After an adult offender is booked at the county jail, the court sets up an arraignment where the person is charged formally, and the judge will decide if the offender receives bail. Once the judge sets a bond amount, the person can get bonded out of jail by a family member or their legal representative.
The laws prevent juveniles from getting bonded out of detention centers, and the judge could require the offenders to stay at the center until the court date. The choice to allow the underage party to go home until the court date is at the decretion of the judge.
Miranda Rights for Defendants
Under federal laws, all parties who are arrested or taken into custody are informed of their Miranda Rights. The civil rights protect the offender from self-incrementation and give the person access to an attorney before the offender answers any questions presented by officers or investigators.
A Right to a Jury
An adult who goes to trial has access to a jury of their peers to determine if the person is guilty and decide how long the person should remain in prison if convicted. An underage offender doesn’t get access to a trial with a jury. A judge renders all decisions for a juvenile case.
Defining Bindover and Its Effects
The bindover process determines if the juvenile offender receives the classification of an adult in the case. The juvenile court uses the hearing to determine more serious cases such as murder. If the court tries the offender as an adult, the defendant has access to a jury. If the case remains in juvenile court, a bench trial determines the outcome. If the judge declares the offender guilty of the crime, the judge renders a sentence in a juvenile detention center.
Criminal classifications and procedures through the court aren’t the same for adults and children. The only instance in which children undergo adult-related processes if the defendant is tried as an adult in cases such as murder. Juveniles are taken into custody instead of arrested, and the defendants spend time in a juvenile detention center where the judge can make the offender stay until their trial date.
