Factors That Go Into Making Juvenile Law
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Juvenile law basically acts as a guardian to a child and deals with children and young people who are accused of committing a crime. There is no age limit set to be accountable to a juvenile law. Usually, offenders under the age of 18 years are brought to a juvenile court.
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A lot many factors are taken into account before deciding to formally charge a juvenile with a crime. The first factor is the severity of the offence. A serious crime is more likely to result in the filing of a petition than a less serious crime. The age of the offender is also considered. Petitions are more likely to be filed in cases involving older children. The juvenile delinquent’s past record are also taken into account. Formal charges are more likely when the juvenile has already been sentenced by a juvenile court.
A major factor in convicting a juvenile is the strength of the evidence that indicate that the person has committed a crime. Strong evidence leads to a greater likelihood of formal charges. The offender's gender is another important criterion. Formal charges are more likely to be filed against boys than against girls.
Another factor in convicting a juvenile is the social history of the individual. Petitions are more likely to be filed if the juvenile has a history of problems at home or school. Another significant factor in convicting a juvenile is the extent of control that the parent or the guardian can exercise over the juvenile. Greater the lack of parental control, the more likely it is that the intake officer will file a petition. In addition to these official reasons, there are a number of subjective factors, for example the individual's attitude. Formal proceedings are less likely when a child shows remorse for committing a crime.
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Factors That Go Into Making Juvenile Law
