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Saturday, March 4, 2017

Possible Verbal Alternatives For Juveniles

By Melissa Evans


A minor who commits a criminal offense is tried under the juvenile crimes system. A minor is defined as anyone below the age of majority which is 18 years for most states. This system aims at educating and rehabilitating the offenders other than punishing them, as is the case with all adult criminal punishment systems. To be lenient with the minors, there are verbal alternatives for juveniles aimed at keeping them from incarceration.

Minors who commit criminal offenses leave a judge with either the option of incarceration or non-incarceration. Incarceration involves confining the offenders in juvenile halls where parole or probation is granted for positive behavior change. They only stay there for hours, days or weeks. The judge also has an option of house arrest with the only freedom available being to attend school or work. There are camps or secured juvenile facilities were serious offenders are taken.

There are instances where minors are tried as adults. For such crimes, most judges send the offenders to adult jails. In some cases, they stay in juvenile facilities until the age of majority when they are transferred to adult jail. Placement is also an option where the presiding judge directs that an offender stays with a person other than the parents or guardian. It could also be in a group home.

There are offenses and sentences designed to keep the offending minor away from incarceration. They are also referred to as diversionary programs because they seek to take away the mind of the juvenile from the normal criminal justice system. The options include verbal warnings which are used in case the offense is not too serious.

Offenders may be required to pay fines that either go to the government or are used to compensate the offended person. Community service is an option for minor offenders where the number of hours is stipulated. The offender will be supervised by probation officers. Community service is usually performed over weekends to avoid disrupting school or work. Judges order counseling that accompanies most incarceration based sentences. There is a rise in the use of monitoring gadgets that are either bracelets or anklets that track the movement of minors.

The discretion on sentencing any offender rests with the judge. A judge has presidents to follow based on the veracity of an offense. Other circumstances surrounding the offense or offender may also determine the punishment meted on a minor. This means that for a similar offense, two juveniles may get different sentences.

It pays to involve a lawyer in all legal proceedings even those involving minors. This facilitates the mounting of a strong argument that will win you a lenient sentence. The lawyer begs for leniency and communicates the willingness of guardians and parents to cooperate with probation officers. This will assist the accused minor in reforming.

Judges may issue verbal warnings, but they must be adhered to with utmost seriousness. The probation officer, parents, guardians and offender must follow the warning to avoid overturning the judgment. Everyone must commit to follow the warning to avoid reversal.




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