Most states’ juvenile justice codes are similar. However, there are some differences in legal requirements and sentencing for persons under the age of 18. For example, a state’s Three Strikes law may or may not take into account felonies committed while still a juvenile. Other states may require psychological evaluations prior to sentencing. Often the services that are offered to an offending juvenile depend on the city’s, county’s, or state’s resources (which include money). In this Discussion, you become familiar with your state’s juvenile justice code and apply specific rules and regulations to a specific case study.
To prepare for this Discussion:
Review the selected pages in Chapter 13 in Introduction to Forensic Psychology. Pay attention to the history and role of the Juvenile Court.
Consider the process of juvenile assessment engaged in by the forensic psychology professional.
Review Chapter 7 in Introduction to Forensic Psychology. Consider the definition of juvenile delinquency and the nature and extent of juvenile offending.
Review Chapter 13 in Introduction to Forensic Psychology and consider the approaches to rehabilitating juvenile criminals.
Review this week’s case study.
Do an Internet search for your state’s juvenile justice code. (Note: It may be helpful to search first for the justice code of your state. Then within that code, search more specifically for “Juvenile.”)
Review your state’s juvenile justice code and find out how it might handle the alleged perpetrator in the case study.
Identify two specific rules or regulations from your state’s juvenile justice code that would address the situation in the case study. (Examples might include the age limits in your state for transfer to adult court, how your state’s juvenile justice code handles questioned competency to stand trial, who can request an evaluation of competency to stand trial for a juvenile, the limits of incarceration of a juvenile, etc.)