CRIMINAL JUSTICE UNIT 3 –
JUVENILE JUSTICE EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
parens patriae - ANSWER-common law principle allows state to assume parental
role and take custody of child when delinquent, abandoned, in need, or natural
parents unable/unwilling to provide
earliest times - ANSWER-when in history does this describe juvenile justice? - little
distinction between criminality and delinquency
end of 18th century - ANSWER-when in history does this describe juvenile justice? -
changing social conditions, increase concern for child well being
mid 19th century - ANSWER-when in history does this describe juvenile justice? -
large scale immigration, many abandoned children, child-savers movement, reform
schools
illinios juvenile court act - ANSWER-1899 - this act created juvenile court; applied
term "delinquent" rather than "criminal" to young adjudicated offenders; judges
ordered to serve child's best interests and work as advocates; abandoned strict
adherence to due process; emphasized reformation over retribution
five philosophical principles of juvenile court movement - ANSWER-1. state is
"higher or ultimate parent" of all children within borders; 2. children are worth saving,
non punitive procedures should be used; 3. children should be nurtured and
protected from stigmatizing impact of formal adjudicatory procedures; 4. justice
needs to be individualized; 5. noncriminal procedures necessary to give primary
considerations to needs of child
delinquent child - ANSWER-category of children in the juvenile justice system -
violates the criminal law
undisciplined child - ANSWER-category of children in the juvenile justice system -
beyond parental control; refuses to obey legitimate authorities; needs state
protection
dependent child - ANSWER-category of children in the juvenile justice system - no
parents or guardians to care for child; parents deceased, up for adoption, or child
abandoned in violation of law
neglected child - ANSWER-category of children in juvenile justice system - does not
receive proper care from parents or guardians; may suffer from malnutrition or may
not be provided with adequate shelter
, abused child - ANSWER-category of children in juvenile justice system - suffers
physical abuse at hands of custodians; expanded to include emotional and sexual
abuse
status offender - ANSWER-category of children in the juvenile justice system -
special category encompassing children who violate laws written only for them (also
referred to as PINS - persons in need of supervision)
persons in need of supervision - ANSWER-what does PINS stand for?
juvenile justice and delinquency prevention act (JJDP) - ANSWER-1974 - name of
act that provided federal grants to improve handling and disposition of juvenile
offenders; nearly all states accepted and had to meet 2 conditions within 5 years - 1.
"sight and sound separation mandate"; 2. deinstitutionalized status offenders
juvenile waiver or transfer laws - ANSWER-provisions held by all states, DC, and the
federal govt to move certain juveniles to criminal (adult) court
judges - ANSWER-46 states give ____ the power to waive jurisdiction over juvenile
cases?
direct file provisions - ANSWER-provision held in 15 states that gives the prosecutor
the power to decide to file certain serious cases
intake, adjudication, disposition, postadjudicatory review - ANSWER-what are the 4
stages of juvenile justice system?
juvenile petition - ANSWER-intake stage - document similar to criminal complaint
and alleges juvenile is delinquent, status offender or dependent; asks court to
assume jurisdiction over juvenile or transfer to adult court; most come directly from
law enforcement authorities
detention hearing - ANSWER-intake stage - investigates whether candidates for
confinement represent clear and immediate danger to themselves and/or others;
conducted by juvenile court judge or by officer of the court; substantial discretion;
diverted juveniles may be sent to other rehabilitative facilities
over 1/2 - ANSWER-how many juvenile cases are handled informally?
preliminary hearing - ANSWER-intake stage - determines probable cause to believe
juvenile committed alleged act; juvenile advised of rights; may still be offered
diversionary options
transfer hearing - ANSWER-intake stage - serious offenders may transfer to adult
court; considers 1. whether transfer statutes apply to the case under consideration
and 2. whether the juvenile is amenable to treatment through resources available to
juvenile justice system
adjudicatory hearing - ANSWER-adjudication stage - fact-finding process; juvenile
court decides whether there is sufficient evidence of law violation
JUVENILE JUSTICE EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
parens patriae - ANSWER-common law principle allows state to assume parental
role and take custody of child when delinquent, abandoned, in need, or natural
parents unable/unwilling to provide
earliest times - ANSWER-when in history does this describe juvenile justice? - little
distinction between criminality and delinquency
end of 18th century - ANSWER-when in history does this describe juvenile justice? -
changing social conditions, increase concern for child well being
mid 19th century - ANSWER-when in history does this describe juvenile justice? -
large scale immigration, many abandoned children, child-savers movement, reform
schools
illinios juvenile court act - ANSWER-1899 - this act created juvenile court; applied
term "delinquent" rather than "criminal" to young adjudicated offenders; judges
ordered to serve child's best interests and work as advocates; abandoned strict
adherence to due process; emphasized reformation over retribution
five philosophical principles of juvenile court movement - ANSWER-1. state is
"higher or ultimate parent" of all children within borders; 2. children are worth saving,
non punitive procedures should be used; 3. children should be nurtured and
protected from stigmatizing impact of formal adjudicatory procedures; 4. justice
needs to be individualized; 5. noncriminal procedures necessary to give primary
considerations to needs of child
delinquent child - ANSWER-category of children in the juvenile justice system -
violates the criminal law
undisciplined child - ANSWER-category of children in the juvenile justice system -
beyond parental control; refuses to obey legitimate authorities; needs state
protection
dependent child - ANSWER-category of children in the juvenile justice system - no
parents or guardians to care for child; parents deceased, up for adoption, or child
abandoned in violation of law
neglected child - ANSWER-category of children in juvenile justice system - does not
receive proper care from parents or guardians; may suffer from malnutrition or may
not be provided with adequate shelter
, abused child - ANSWER-category of children in juvenile justice system - suffers
physical abuse at hands of custodians; expanded to include emotional and sexual
abuse
status offender - ANSWER-category of children in the juvenile justice system -
special category encompassing children who violate laws written only for them (also
referred to as PINS - persons in need of supervision)
persons in need of supervision - ANSWER-what does PINS stand for?
juvenile justice and delinquency prevention act (JJDP) - ANSWER-1974 - name of
act that provided federal grants to improve handling and disposition of juvenile
offenders; nearly all states accepted and had to meet 2 conditions within 5 years - 1.
"sight and sound separation mandate"; 2. deinstitutionalized status offenders
juvenile waiver or transfer laws - ANSWER-provisions held by all states, DC, and the
federal govt to move certain juveniles to criminal (adult) court
judges - ANSWER-46 states give ____ the power to waive jurisdiction over juvenile
cases?
direct file provisions - ANSWER-provision held in 15 states that gives the prosecutor
the power to decide to file certain serious cases
intake, adjudication, disposition, postadjudicatory review - ANSWER-what are the 4
stages of juvenile justice system?
juvenile petition - ANSWER-intake stage - document similar to criminal complaint
and alleges juvenile is delinquent, status offender or dependent; asks court to
assume jurisdiction over juvenile or transfer to adult court; most come directly from
law enforcement authorities
detention hearing - ANSWER-intake stage - investigates whether candidates for
confinement represent clear and immediate danger to themselves and/or others;
conducted by juvenile court judge or by officer of the court; substantial discretion;
diverted juveniles may be sent to other rehabilitative facilities
over 1/2 - ANSWER-how many juvenile cases are handled informally?
preliminary hearing - ANSWER-intake stage - determines probable cause to believe
juvenile committed alleged act; juvenile advised of rights; may still be offered
diversionary options
transfer hearing - ANSWER-intake stage - serious offenders may transfer to adult
court; considers 1. whether transfer statutes apply to the case under consideration
and 2. whether the juvenile is amenable to treatment through resources available to
juvenile justice system
adjudicatory hearing - ANSWER-adjudication stage - fact-finding process; juvenile
court decides whether there is sufficient evidence of law violation
