An important yet often understated role of the legal system is to address juvenile crimes. When young individuals engage in illegal activities, it is important for the legal system to recognise that these crimes are often committed by individuals with lower capacity and unique circumstances. Because of this, the youth justice system is one that differs significantly from the legal system that would normally apply. In this post, we take a closer look at how the Australian legal system deals with juvenile crimes.
What Are Juvenile Crimes?
For a crime to be considered a juvenile crime in Australia, it has to have been committed by an individual who was between the ages of 10 to 17 at the time it was committed. Thus, this means that some individuals above the age of 18 may be supervised under the youth justice system because they were youths when they committed their crimes.
Unique Features of the Youth Justice System
Because the youth justice system is designed to deal youths who have very different circumstances compared to adults, it also has several unique characteristics, including:
Objective of the Youth Justice System
Unlike the legal system which seeks to punish offenders for the crimes they commit, the youth justice system’s primary objective is to rehabilitate youths with the eventual goal of having them return to society as full-functioning individuals. Because of this, the sentences that are handed out to young offenders will also be given with the objective of the youth justice system in mind.
Wider Range of Sentencing Option
Youths who commit crimes and are found guilty may also be sentenced to a wider range of punishments that focus on rehabilitation instead of punishments. For example, they may be sentenced to supervision, probation or community service. They may also be sent to a youth justice facility instead of a prison, with the former being more focused on rehabilitation.
What to Do if You’ve Been Arrested?
If you have been arrested for juvenile crime, you may be eligible to be sentenced under the youth justice system. This may lead to a more beneficial result, especially if the alternative is being sentenced under the adult correctional system.
While you may be nervous or anxious when you’re first arrested, the best way for you to obtain a positive outcome is by hiring a criminal lawyer. A criminal lawyer would be able to provide you with proper advice on how you can get the best outcome for your case. They can also represent you in negotiations or talks with prosecutors and can help you explain your circumstances to the sentencing body.
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