Notes on Assignment Submissions and Juvenile vs Adult Criminal Justice System
Assignment Submission: Timing and Penalties
Better early than late, but going too far ahead can cause you to miss important things included in class. This can lead to more points being deducted for content.
Pace yourself so you can submit after what happens in class as well; avoid waiting for the very last moment.
There is a specific timestamp to adhere to when submitting, e.g., Thursday at . Late submissions incur penalties if you turn in the work late (e.g., a week late, two weeks later, etc.).
Late penalties apply if you blow off the assignment; plan to avoid them.
Assignments are typically not very long, so time management and pacing matter more for content quality than length.
The Criminal Justice System: An Overview
A graph on the board outlines the path through the criminal justice system, which applies to both adults and juveniles.
The juvenile system mirrors the adult system in many ways, but has a fundamentally different orientation.
Key difference: terminology and approach in the juvenile system reflect a different philosophy and set of priorities.
Adult world terminology:
When the police decide to take action, the term is arrest.
Juvenile system terminology and practice:
There is more discretion for officers and staff; warnings are more common, and juveniles are often taken home to their parents rather than being arrested.
Terminology shift from adulthood to youth:
In the adult world, a person can be identified as a criminal.
In the juvenile world, the corresponding term is delinquent.
Parole, Sentencing, and the Roles of Agencies
In the adult system, parole is a form of release that appears after the corrections stage. It is a type of release granted by a state agency, not directly by the sentencing judge.
The adult sentencing framework includes multiple options at stage 3 of sentencing, such as:
fine, conditional discharge, probation, split sentences, jail, prison, etc.
Parole is an end-stage release from custody for those who are in secure facilities; it is handled by a state agency and is not dictated by the original criminal court.
The sentencing judge’s influence on parole is limited; probation is more connected to the judge’s sentencing decision than parole.
In the juvenile system, there are different paths to release that can resemble parole but are described differently:
After release from custody in the juvenile system, the term used is aftercare.
The number of juvenile cases that reach release from custody is very small (minuscule).
Some juveniles may reach age 21 and be transferred to an adult facility.
When juveniles are released (or moved to an adult facility), the terminology and supervision arrangements differ from the adult parole framework.
Summary of key terms:
Parole (adult system): release by a state agency after confinement; not typically controlled by the sentencing judge.
Aftercare (juvenile system): post-release supervision for juveniles; distinct from adult parole.
Age threshold: transfer to adult facilities can occur around age .
Implications and Connections
Ethical and practical implications:
The juvenile system’s emphasis on warnings and alternatives highlights a rehabilitative orientation versus the more punitive emphasis sometimes seen in adult procedures.
The terminology shift (criminal vs delinquent) reflects different perceptions of youth in the justice process.
Real-world relevance:
Understanding where discretion lies (e.g., police discretion in juveniles vs stricter arrest procedures in adults) helps explain outcomes and potential biases.
The separation of parole decisions from the sentencing judge underscores the role of separate agencies in the supervision and release process.
Foundational connections:
This material connects to broader topics on corrections, probation, and rehabilitation vs punishment.
It also ties into discussions about age-based policy, risk assessment, and the effectiveness of different intervention strategies.
Numerical references and formulas used in this context:
The age threshold for potential transfer to adult facilities:
Notation for time on assignments: on a designated Thursday
Practical takeaway:
Be mindful of assignment timing to avoid late penalties and content deductions.
Recognize the distinct pathways and terminology for adults vs. juveniles when discussing justice system processes.