PROCEDURES IN JUVINILE

COURTS

initial hearing:Young people who are taken into custudy and formally referred to juvinile court are entiled to an initial hearing on the validity of their arrest and detention.. At this initial hearing, the state must generally prove two things: that an offense was commited there is a reasonable cause to belive that the accused commited it. If the state wants to further detain the juvinile, it must prove that the juvinile is a danger to self and others, that he or she is likely to run away if released, or that his or her past records warrants detention. If the juvinile does not have an attorney, the court will usally assing one at this time and set a date for hearing on the facts.

adjuditory hearing: A juvinile charged with a delequent act is given a hearing. Generally known as adjuditory hearing,its purpose is the same as that as that of an adult rial-to determine the facts of the case.Generally, unlike an adult trial, a juvinile hearing is closed to the public, and the names ofthe accused and details of the offense are withheld from the press. Although juviniles do not have a constiutional riegth to a jury trial, some states do provide for juries in juvinle cases.

punish ments: the punishment is usally based on school records, family, social, and psychological state.In concluding that the death penalty for minors is cruel and unusual punishment, the court cited a "national consensus" against the practice, along with medical and social-science evidence that teenagers are too immature to be held accountable for their crimes to the same extent as adults.