by Rebecca Mayglothling

Created on: August 31, 2010

Juveniles are defined as young persons, usually under eighteen years of age. Sometimes, juveniles are enamored by the tougher side of life, or they are forced into a harder lifestyle by their circumstance. These children may find temptations to stray from the law, and cause the law to correct them. Juvenile law is the branch of law which deals with our youngest law breakers, and this is an overview of that branch of the law.

Juvenile law is an area of justice applicable to individuals not old enough to be legally held responsible for criminal acts. In most states, 18 years is the age set for criminal responsibility. The main goal of most states' juvenile law system is rehabilitation rather than punishment. Juvenile law is governed by states and most states have been responsible enough to create a code for care of misbehaved juveniles.

The safety and welfare of children is the responsibility and concern of individual states, so statutes creating juvenile courts and rehabilitation methods are considered an acceptable branch of state police power for the safety of children. "Parens patriae", Latin for "parent of the nation", allows states to draw legislation relating to the care, custody, and welfare of the children citizens of the state.

While the states shoulder most responsibility for juvenile law, the federal government takes a role as well. The federal government acts largely to contribute funds and set standards for juvenile law. In 1968, the Juvenile Delinquency Prevention and Control Act was passed, being revised in 1972 and renamed the Juvenile Delinquency Prevention Act. The act states the cost to citizens to uphold the life of a delinquent and the standards problems delinquents can cause. The act then continues to propose methods for states to rehabilitate juvenile law breakers and further prevent children from breaking the law the first time. The act further dictates a need for trained individuals to assist with youth services, and a need for technical assistance in the field of juvenile prevention and rehabilitation.

Federal law defines juvenile delinquency as any act that is otherwise a crime, but is committed by someone under the age of 18. The federal government, with the Act stated above, set forth guidelines for states to provide rehabilitation and facilitate redirection to these misguided youth. The states are free to interpret the law as set forth and appropriate facilities, professionals, and programs as they see fit.

References:

http://topics.law.cornell.edu/wex/Juvenile_justice

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