JUSTICE SYSTEM

The Adult Criminal Justice System And The Juvenile Justice System

Abstract

There are two types of legal system that are practiced in the United States. The first one is the adult criminal justice system and the other is juvenile justice system. The former system is for adults and the latter one is for minors. In this report we will compare both systems and see what similarities and difference we find. Also is there a need for two systems or just one system is enough.

The Adult Criminal Justice System and the Juvenile Justice System

Introduction

The Juvenile justice system

It consists of policies, laws, customary norms, professionals, systems, policies, treatments and institutions applicable specifically to those children who are in conflict with law and order. The idea of this system is not to invoke guilt or give punishment to the juvenile but to adjudicate and assist him so that the child does not perform any such acts in the future (FindLaw 2007).

The Adult Criminal Justice System

It consists of procedures, authorities, laws, institutions and professionals to victims and witnesses, or to the adults who are accused of, recognized as or alleged as committing a criminal offense (FindLaw 2007).



Similarities & Differences between the Juvenile justice System and The Adult Criminal Justice System

Though both systems want to reduce crime but are somewhat different from each other. Let's look at the similarities and the differences between these justice systems:

Some of the basic similarities between both the systems are:

•Involves people who are accused of crime(s)

•People have the basic rights i.e. Miranda

•Both can plead but on different terms

•Accused goes before a judge

•Both try to keep the community secure

•No one is above the law

•Constitutional rights will apply to both

But there are many differences also:

1.Court Differences

In the Adult Criminal System the criminal offenders are tried in a circuit or district court, but those offenders who are below the age of eighteen are tried according to the Juvenile Justice System. The proceedings of Juvenile System are advocated in such a way that it is for the child's best interest and are not at all considered criminal offenses as compared to the Adult criminal justice System

2.Trial

The juvenile criminal offenders usually are put on trial where both legal and psychological issued are determined where as in the adult justice system the offenders face trial that is based on facts for their violation. Usually all the defendants have a constitutional right for a jury trial but not every state allows the same right to juveniles.

3.Verdicts and Sentencing

According to the Adult criminal system the defendant will either be found not guilty or guilty by the court but in the juvenile system the offender will be termed either “involved” or “delinquent”. A criminal offender might get a sentence of a certain amount of time and a juvenile offender might be sent for rehabilitation but that depends upon the seriousness and the history of the offensive acts. In criminal justice system the defendant is given a verdict whereas in the juvenile justice system the defendant is ...