One of the biggest concerns at this time for lawmakers in the state of California concerns juvenile crime. Lawmakers have ratified many laws to deal with the public's concerns regarding juvenile crime. In spite of these efforts, polls continue to prove that the public still views juvenile crime as one of society’s most urgent problems.
The Juvenile Justice System
The juvenile justice system has progressed over the years due to the assertion that juveniles are different from adults and those who commit criminal acts usually should be treated different. Independent courts, detention facilities, regulations, actions, and laws were designed for juveniles with the intention of welfare protection and rehabilitation, in addition to maintaining public safety.
In certain situations, juveniles may be tried as either juveniles or adults. However, even under these circumstances, their treatment is still different from an adult’s. For instance, juveniles arrested for an "adult" crime can be judged in either juvenile or adult court; if convicted, they can be imprisoned in either a county or state correctional facility or left in the community; and if imprisoned, can be housed with other juveniles or adults. On the contrary, adults charged with the same offense will always be tried as an adult; if convicted, they will be imprisoned by the state and would room with adults.
Juvenile Crime in California
Quite simply, "crime" is any explicit illegal act, including one’s failure to perform an act explicitly required by law. To expand this definition to juveniles, one need only consider the age of the alleged offender in question.
Types of Offenses
Regardless of whether an adult or juvenile commits the crime, it is categorized by the gravity of the offenses:
