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Cases like Lionel's are not a new or unusual situation. Juveniles are tried and convicted as adults for various crimes each and every year. In Lionel's home state juveniles being tried in adult courts have been rising significantly. In the years of 1975 and 1976, 904 juveniles were tried in adult courts. 2,883 juveniles in tried adult courts and 5,877 in the years of 1981 to 1982 and 1989 to 1990 followed this, respectively (Coalition for Juvenile Justice 183). Virginia also has some startling statistics in regards to juveniles being tried as adults. During the years of 1988 to 1990, 63 percent of juveniles that were tried in adult courts were sentenced to prison. Needless to say, the juveniles that were sentenced to prison received more severe punishment then their counterparts who were tried in juvenile courts (Coalition for Juvenile Justice 182). The average sentencing for juveniles in adult courts was also considerably different then juveniles who were tried in juvenile courts. Juveniles in adult courts received an average of 8.1 years compared to 7.6 months for individuals tried in juvenile courts. A study conducted in Utah followed fifty-three juveniles that were transferred to adult courts for five years. Forty-nine of these individuals were brought to court; forty of which plea-bargained and nine were sentenced by the
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Although juvenile brains are not fully developed they still need to be punished for their actions. One alternative method to an adult court is youth court. Youth courts are just like adult courts in the sense that they have a jurors, lawyers, judges, and bailiffs but with one difference, all these individuals are youth. The only adults present are parents, police officers, and the victim. Only certain individuals qualify for youth court though. To qualify the individual must be a first time offender who pled guilty and is under the age of nineteen. Punishments are also very creative and individuals cannot be sentenced to jail time. Ninety nine percent of these juveniles fulfill their punishment and end up keeping a clean record. The punishments help eliminate repeat offenders by making the punishment more personal (Caplan 2). This form is also helpful in that it shows offenders that there are consequences for their actions and that there are adults that care about them. The numbers of these courts has been on the rise accordingly to the rise in juvenile crimes. In 1994 a total of seventy-eight youth courts existed and today there are 1,035. Police officers, schools, and other non-profit organizations hold these courts. Not only do these courts show improvement in juveniles but they are also much more cost effective. On average youth court trial costs $480 per trial, were as a criminal court
Although juvenile brains are not fully developed they still need to be punished for their actions. One alternative method to an adult court is youth court. Youth courts are just like adult courts in the sense that they have a jurors, lawyers, judges, and bailiffs but with one difference, all these individuals are youth. The only adults present are parents, police officers, and the victim. Only certain individuals qualify for youth court though. To qualify the individual must be a first time offender who pled guilty and is under the age of nineteen. Punishments are also very creative and individuals cannot be sentenced to jail time. Ninety nine percent of these juveniles fulfill their punishment and end up keeping a clean record. The punishments help eliminate repeat offenders by making the punishment more personal (Caplan 2). This form is also helpful in that it shows offenders that there are consequences for their actions and that there are adults that care about them. The numbers of these courts has been on the rise accordingly to the rise in juvenile crimes. In 1994 a total of seventy-eight youth courts existed and today there are 1,035. Police officers, schools, and other non-profit organizations hold these courts. Not only do these courts show improvement in juveniles but they are also much more cost effective. On average youth court trial costs $480 per trial, were as a criminal court