How are young people involved in the juvenile justice system?

Youth Involved with the Juvenile Justice System. Some children and youth become involved with the juvenile justice system because they are accused of committing a delinquent or criminal act. Other youth come into contact with the system for status offenses—actions that are illegal only because of a youth’s age—such as truancy, underage drinking,…

Are juveniles sentenced to life sentences disproportionately?

This is no different when it comes to life sentences and the problem may be even worse for juveniles. The disproportionate presence of black youth among the life-sentenced population is staggering. Eighty percent of youth serving life sentences are youth of color and more than 50\% are African American.

Can a juvenile go to jail for a long time?

If a juvenile has committed a more serious crime, a judge may sentence them to a longer period of incarceration in a secured juvenile facility. This term can last for a year or more. In some unusual cases, a juvenile may be sentenced to spend time in a regular jail or prison.

What is the harshest sentence for juvenile offenders?

Having banned the use of the death penalty for juveniles in Roper, the Court left the sentence of life without parole as the harshest sentence available for offenses committed by people under 18. In Graham v. Florida, the Court banned the use of life without parole for juveniles not convicted of homicide.

What happens in juvenile detention centers?

What happens in juvenile detention centers day-to-day varies by facility, but school-age youth must attend school. Youth are entitled to go outdoors regularly, engage in physical exercise, participate in a range of recreational activities and practice their religion.

What happens to juvenile offenders convicted in adult court?

The majority of youth prosecuted in adult court are charged with nonviolent offenses. Federal law states that youth transferred from juvenile facilities to the adult system must be separated by sight and sound from adult inmates.

How does the juvenile justice system affect special education?

Youth in the juvenile justice system are identified as eligible for special education services at three to seven times the rate of youth outside the system. 13. Many incarcerated youth are marginally literate or illiterate and have already experienced school failure.