Free Printable Worksheets for learning Juvenile Justice at the College level

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Juvenile Justice: Key Concepts and Definitions

Juvenile justice refers to the system of laws, policies, and procedures that govern the prosecution, punishment, and rehabilitation of minors who have committed criminal offenses. The juvenile justice system differs from the adult criminal justice system in several key ways, including the age of jurisdiction, the focus on rehabilitation over punishment, and the use of specialized courts, programs, and services.

Key Concepts and Definitions:

Age of Jurisdiction

  • In most states, the age of jurisdiction for juvenile court is under 18 years old.
  • Juveniles who commit serious, violent crimes may be tried as adults.

Adjudication

  • Juvenile court's equivalent to a trial in adult court.
  • A judge hears evidence and renders a verdict.

Disposition

  • Juvenile court's equivalent to sentencing in adult court.
  • The judge determines the appropriate treatment, rehabilitation or placement of the juvenile.

Rehabilitation

  • The primary goal of the juvenile justice system.
  • The focus is on helping the juvenile address their underlying issues that led to the offending behavior and prevent future incidents.

Diversion

  • Alternative to prosecution that offers non-punitive measures.
  • Juvenile can be referred to a program or counseling.

Important Information:

  • The juvenile justice system emphasizes rehabilitation over punishment.
  • Juvenile records are often sealed, unlike adult records.
  • Juvenile offenders have the same constitutional rights as adults.
  • The juvenile justice system uses specialized courts, programs, and services to address the unique needs of minors.

Takeaways:

  • Juvenile justice is a separate legal system that focuses on the rehabilitation of juvenile offenders.
  • Age of jurisdiction is a key factor in the juvenile justice system.
  • Rehabilitation is the primary goal, and diversion offers an alternative to prosecution.
  • Juvenile records are often sealed, and minors have the same constitutional rights as adults.

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Word Definition
Adjudication the process by which a juvenile court determines whether evidence supports the allegations against the juvenile defendant
Delinquent a juvenile who has committed an offense that would be considered criminal if committed by an adult
Detention confinement of a juvenile in a facility
Probation a sentence in which a juvenile remains in the community under the supervision of a probation officer
Rehabilitation treatment or programming intended to help a delinquent youth address the underlying causes of criminal behavior
Recidivism the tendency for a person who has been convicted of a crime to reoffend, often resulting in their return to the juvenile justice system
Restitution compensation or repair for damage done or harm caused, often requiring the juvenile to perform community service or pay money
Expungement the process of sealing or erasing a juvenile court record so that it is no longer available to the public
Pre-Disposition Report a report that provides information about the juvenile, their family, and their offense, which is used to make a disposition decision
Status Offense an act that would not be considered a crime if committed by an adult, such as truancy or running away from home
Transfer the process by which a juvenile case is moved to the adult criminal court system
Adversarial System a legal process in which the parties involved argue their positions before a neutral fact-finder, such as a judge
Child Advocate an individual appointed by the court or otherwise assigned to represent the best interests of a child during legal proceedings
Consent Decree a formal agreement reached between the parties involved in a lawsuit, subject to the court's approval
Diversion Program a program that provides an alternative to traditional court processing for juveniles who commit minor offenses
Guardian ad litem a person appointed by a court to represent the best interests of a child in court proceedings
Intake the process by which a juvenile enters the juvenile justice system
Jurisdiction the authority of a court to hear and decide cases within a specific geographical area or over a particular subject matter
Neglect failure to provide for a child's basic needs, including safety, food, clothing, shelter, and medical care
Parental Responsibility Laws laws that hold parents or guardians responsible for their child's delinquent behavior

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Study Guide: Juvenile Justice

Introduction

  • Define juvenile justice
  • Explain its purpose
  • Describe the legal framework of juvenile justice

History of Juvenile Justice

  • Explain the evolution of juvenile justice in the U.S.
  • Discuss the significant court cases related to juvenile justice
  • Describe the role of the Juvenile Court in the early 20th century

Juvenile Justice System

  • Identify the key players in the juvenile justice system
  • Explain the differences between the juvenile justice system and the adult criminal justice system
  • Discuss the current structure of the juvenile court system

Juvenile Delinquency

  • Define juvenile delinquency
  • Discuss the various causes of juvenile delinquency (i.e. social, economic, psychological factors)
  • Identify the different types of juvenile offenses

Juvenile Justice Process

  • Describe the steps involved in the juvenile justice process (i.e. intake, detention, adjudication, disposition)
  • Explain the rights of the juvenile in the justice process
  • Discuss the role of diversion programs

Juvenile Corrections

  • Define juvenile corrections
  • Describe the purpose of juvenile corrections
  • Explain the different types of juvenile correctional facilities

Rehabilitation and Aftercare

  • Define rehabilitation and aftercare
  • Describe the rehabilitation programs available for juvenile offenders
  • Explain the role of aftercare in the rehabilitation process

Contemporary Issues

  • Discuss the current issues facing the juvenile justice system
  • Analyze the impact of social media on juvenile delinquency
  • Identify potential reforms for the juvenile justice system

Conclusion

  • Summarize the key points of the study guide
  • Discuss the importance of the juvenile justice system in society.

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Practice Sheet: Juvenile Justice

  1. Describe the concept of parens patriae in relation to the juvenile justice system.
  2. Explain the differences between the juvenile justice system and the adult criminal justice system.
  3. What is the minimum age of criminal responsibility in the United States?
  4. Define delinquency as it applies to the juvenile justice system.
  5. List and explain the different types of juvenile delinquency.
  6. What are the stages of the juvenile justice process?
  7. What is the purpose of diversion programs in the juvenile justice system?
  8. Explain how the decision to transfer a juvenile to adult court is made.
  9. Describe the rights of juveniles in the criminal justice system.
  10. Explain the concept of rehabilitation in the juvenile justice system.

Bonus question: 11. Discuss the current debate surrounding the use of detention and confinement in the juvenile justice system.

Sample Juvenile Justice Practice Problem

What is the legal definition of a juvenile in the United States?

The legal definition of a juvenile in the United States is a person who is under the age of 18. Depending on the state, a juvenile may be charged as an adult for certain offenses.

  1. What are the differences between juvenile court and adult court?

  2. What is the purpose of juvenile justice?

  3. What is the most common offense committed by juveniles?

  4. What are the different types of juvenile sanctions?

  5. What are the different types of juvenile diversion programs?

  6. What are the different types of juvenile rehabilitation programs?

  7. What are the benefits of juvenile probation?

  8. What are the most common causes of juvenile delinquency?

  9. What are the different types of juvenile detention centers?

  10. What are the differences between juvenile justice and criminal justice?

Practice Sheet for Juvenile Justice

Topic 1: The History of Juvenile Justice

  1. What is the origin of the juvenile justice system in the United States?
  2. What is the purpose of the juvenile justice system?
  3. What is the difference between the juvenile justice system and the adult criminal justice system?
  4. What are the key components of the juvenile justice system?
  5. What is the role of the family court in juvenile justice?

Topic 2: Juvenile Offenses and Sentencing

  1. What are the most common offenses committed by juveniles?
  2. What are the consequences of juvenile offenses?
  3. What are the different types of juvenile sentences?
  4. What factors are considered when determining a juvenile sentence?
  5. What are the pros and cons of juvenile sentencing?

Topic 3: Juvenile Justice Reform

  1. What are the current trends in juvenile justice reform?
  2. What are the goals of juvenile justice reform?
  3. What are some of the recent changes to juvenile justice policies?
  4. What are the challenges of juvenile justice reform?
  5. What are the potential solutions to the challenges of juvenile justice reform?

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Quiz: Juvenile Justice

Instructions: Provide an answer to each problem.

Problem Answer
Explain the concept of parens patriae. The legal principle that grants the state the authority to act on behalf of a child or individual who cannot legally act on their own behalf.
What is the primary goal of the juvenile justice system? Rehabilitation of the juvenile offender.
What is the age range for juvenile court jurisdiction in most states? Between 7 and 18 years old.
What is a status offense? An act that is considered illegal because of the youth of the offender, such as skipping school, running away from home, or violating curfew.
What is diversion? An alternative to formal court proceedings that allows a juvenile offender to participate in programs or services instead of entering the juvenile justice system.
What is the purpose of a predisposition report? To provide a juvenile court judge with information about a juvenile offender's background and circumstances to aid in the determination of a proper sentence.
What is the purpose of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act? To safeguard the welfare of juveniles who are subject to the juvenile justice system by setting standards and providing funding for states that comply with those standards.
What is a waiver? A process that allows the transfer of a juvenile offender to adult court for trial and sentencing.
What is the purpose of the Balanced and Restorative Justice model? To promote accountability of juvenile offenders while also protecting the community and offering rehabilitation opportunities for the offender.
What is the purpose of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in the context of juvenile justice? To ensure that juveniles with disabilities receive appropriate accommodations and services within the juvenile justice system.
Problem Answer
What is the legal definition of a juvenile? A juvenile is a person who is under the age of 18 and has not yet reached the age of majority.
What is the purpose of juvenile justice? The purpose of juvenile justice is to provide a system of justice that is tailored to the needs of juveniles and to provide a system of accountability for juveniles who commit crimes.
What is the difference between juvenile and adult courts? The main difference between juvenile and adult courts is that juvenile courts focus on rehabilitation and treatment, while adult courts focus on punishment and deterrence.
What is the concept of parens patriae? Parens patriae is a legal concept that allows the state to intervene in the lives of juveniles in order to protect their rights and welfare.
What is the difference between delinquency and status offenses? Delinquency offenses are criminal offenses committed by juveniles, while status offenses are offenses that are only applicable to juveniles, such as truancy and curfew violations.
What are the four main goals of the juvenile justice system? The four main goals of the juvenile justice system are: rehabilitation, accountability, public safety, and victim restitution.
What is the difference between diversion and probation? Diversion is a process of diverting a juvenile away from the formal juvenile justice system, while probation is a form of court-ordered supervision.
What is the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act? The Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act is a federal law that seeks to protect juveniles from the harms of the juvenile justice system and to promote the prevention of juvenile delinquency.
What is the difference between a waiver and a transfer? A waiver is a process by which a juvenile is transferred from the juvenile justice system to the adult criminal justice system, while a transfer is a process by which a juvenile is transferred from one court to another.
What is the purpose of restorative justice? The purpose of restorative justice is to repair the harm caused by a juvenile's criminal behavior by providing an opportunity for the victim and the offender to come together to discuss the offense and to determine a resolution.

Quiz: Juvenile Justice

Question Answer
What is the age limit for juvenile court jurisdiction? Generally, juvenile court jurisdiction covers individuals under the age of 18.
What is the purpose of juvenile court? The purpose of juvenile court is to rehabilitate and protect juveniles who have been accused of committing a crime, rather than punish them.
What is the difference between juvenile court and adult court? Juvenile court is focused on rehabilitation and protection, while adult court is focused on punishing the offender. Juvenile court also has more lenient sentencing options.
What is the term for a minor who has been charged with a crime? A minor who has been charged with a crime is referred to as a delinquent.
What is the term for a minor who has been found guilty of a crime? A minor who has been found guilty of a crime is referred to as a delinquent.
What is the term for a minor who has been found not guilty of a crime? A minor who has been found not guilty of a crime is referred to as an acquittee.
What is the term for a minor who has been found to be a danger to society? A minor who has been found to be a danger to society is referred to as a status offender.
What is the term for a minor who has been found to be in need of supervision or treatment? A minor who has been found to be in need of supervision or treatment is referred to as a dependent.
What is the term for a minor who has been found to be in need of protection? A minor who has been found to be in need of protection is referred to as an abused or neglected child.
What is the term for a minor who has been found to be a victim of a crime? A minor who has been found to be a victim of a crime is referred to as a victim.
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