Abstract
This paper focuses on crime among minors; there a number of social challenges that they face, which lead them to juvenile courts for justice and case determination. A situational action theory elaborates on delinquent behaviors among adolescents. This theory explains that criminal actions are a result of a perceptional decision-making process influenced by the surrounding persons, especially with the criminogenic attitude or thoughts. Social challenges among minors are not the key reasons why they get involved in crimes, but such issues expose an individual to a criminal-like environment. The relationship between the social difficulties and crime, as situational theory is concerned, remains hypothetical since it requires many testing procedures through developing equations (structural equation modeling) to examine various side effects of the heterogeneities structure. The connection that exists between delinquency and heterogenetic characteristics forms a great part of the Situational Action Theory (SAT).
Introduction
The juvenile system plays a critical role in creating a sustainable and reliable society. The behaviors of a minor who goes astray or contrary to what is termed criminal are corrected through the juvenile system. Some of the cases involving adolescents are so severe that they need to be considered in adult courts (Hoffmann & Dufur, 2018). In most cases, juvenile proceedings focus on persons below the age of 18 years old, while serious cases are waived to adult courts for further case determination. Under such an environment, the minors’ cases are determined in the process of adult court trials based on legal principles.
A serious sentence can be imposed on minors with delinquent behaviors, which means serving their jail terms in adult correctional facilities. Juveniles eligible for transfer can be as young as 13 years old. Every time adolescents commit a crime, flashback or fast thought bring to their attention that what has happened is a crime as the actions can lead to a negative outcome. A case of Jasmine Richardson, who killed the parents and brother with the help of the boyfriend on May 6, 2016, is a vivid example (Hoffmann & Dufur, 2018). The girl was barely 12 years old, and her boyfriend was 23 years old. It was established by investigators that the brother was stabbed to death. According to the juvenile court, the maximum imprisonment (penalty) she could get was ten years.
However, with the waiver to adult court, maximum justice could be given. The juvenile system provides a basis for the majority of adult penalty. When the waiver into adult court appears, there is the application of quite serious sentences as compared to those at a minor level. According to the situational action theory with regards to minor crimes, the causes of misconduct are impacted by developmental factors and different situations (Ahlin et al., 2019). The relationship between minors and social challenges could be addressed by identifying the weaknesses in the system and providing a solution-oriented recommendation.
Age Maturity Determination
When undertaking a proceeding, adult courts frequently do not put into consideration the factor of a child’s maturity. The psychological and physical growth of a child is enough to make one decide correctly. Most minors are known to be risk-takers (Ahlin et al., 2019). Mostly, kids younger than 14 years often do not understand the consequence of their criminal actions, and most of them do not fully recognize having broken a law. For example, a boy aged nine years old was arraigned in court on October 20, 2019 for a murder charge, resulting from a fire he put in mobile (Valentine et al., 2019). The judge decided that the boy was innocent for not knowing the meaning of the word “alleged’’.
Sealing of Criminal Records as Compared to Juvenile Crimes
When minors are involved in a criminal activity, their record is covered since they are growing adults, and growing adults require an opportunity to have a successful life after that. In a case where the panel determining the hearing is not age-sensitive, kids younger than ten years and below could be sentenced for severe crimes. It means that their criminal records do not affect their lives once they are past 18 years old and above in many scenarios. If a conviction occurs in an adult court for a juvenile, then expunging that record becomes more challenging (Ahlin et al., 2019). Juveniles should have a law or rule that allows individuals with waiver cases from the juvenile to adult court to have their record sealed for their life after imprisonment.
Limited Rehabilitation Facilities
There are limited rehabilitation facilities at adult courts, as compared to juvenile ones. Some sentences imposed after weavers make a life after imprisonment especially complicated as people face problems with reintegrating into society. For example, a 13-year-old individual can be waived to adult court and given the punishment of 35 years jail terms. This individual will be done with the jail term at the age of almost 50 years old, when little can be done in terms of starting the new life, considering that he or she was too young before serving the jail term.
Minors Placed in Adult Prison Have Higher Risks
The majority of minors with long-term jail sentences, who were referred to adult courts, are kept in solitary confinement, where they serve they jail term till they grow old enough. Some of them commit suicide due to psychological effects (Buchanan et al., 2020). In addition, juveniles serving long-term jails have a high risk of committing more crimes compared to adults. It should be stressed that adult prisoners can force younger inmates to engage in the criminal activity.
Standard Sentence in Adult Courts
The law applies to minors after the waiver even when they are as young as 10 years. The only exception is a capital punishment that refers to a life sentence. With a long-term sentence, adolescents can engage in drug abuse while in prison. Another risk is developing long-lasting consequences that can be problematic to their families and society even after serving the jail term (Buchanan et al., 2020). In other words, subjecting juveniles to adult courts does not provide the solution to social challenges.
Waving minors into the adult system does not necessarily solve the route cause for their involvement in criminal activities. When they are subjected to adult prisons, youth does not receive essential psychological and educational services, such as General Educational Development (GED) training. This implies that minors serving their jail terms in adult prisons do not have an opportunity for proper rehabilitation, which limits their capacity to develop skills that would help them in life after imprisonment. In most cases, when youth are mixed with grown-ups especially serving long-term, they develop a society, where others become teachers, guardians, and idols to be worshiped (Buchanan et al., 2020). In these newly-formed societies, they are likely to end up learning more criminal tactics, such as drug deals. Therefore,
Conclusion
To conclude, based on the presented discussion, adolescents should be allowed to serve short jail terms to create a great future after improving their behaviors. The juvenile system should always keep young offenders away from adult offenders to minimize instances of recidivism. The justice system should be checked in the best way possible to help minors involved in crime, the offended persons, and society as a whole. The social structure should make sure that children are brought up in the appropriate environment and given education that empowers them.
Families also have a responsibility of creating awareness and sensitize their children on matters of law and crime to promote a reduction in crime rates. A court proceeding, where a juvenile is given a waiver and the case is determined in the adult court, may not provide a fair jury. The juvenile system is to share the responsibility for children involved in crimes with their parents. Currently, parents are denied responsibility of care, and they are given civil liabilities as a result of the crime committed by their kids. The juvenile system should properly manage crimes among youths to create and support balance and respect in society. However, some reforms on issues relating to a waiver into adult courts have to be checked so that young people involved in crimes are given a fair chance to have a better future and reintegrate into society as its active members.
References
Ahlin, E. M., & Hummer, D. (2019). Sexual victimization of juveniles incarcerated in jails and prisons: An exploratory study of prevalence and risk factors. Victims & Offenders, 14(7), 793-810.
Buchanan, M., Castro, E. D., Kushner, M., & Krohn, M. D. (2020). It’s F**ing chaos: COVID- 19’s impact on juvenile delinquency and juvenile justice. American Journal of Criminal Justice, 45(4), 578-600.
Hoffmann, J. P., & Dufur, M. J. (2018). Family social capital, family social bonds, and juvenile delinquency. American Behavioral Scientist, 62(11), 1525-1544.
Valentine, C. L., Restivo, E., & Wright, K. (2019). Prolonged isolation as a predictor of mental health for waived juveniles. Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, 58(4), 352-369.