Police Discretions and Juvenile Acts

Police and Juvenile Delinquency

According to the numbers published on the National Institute of Justice, in 2010, the number of arrests of juveniles was down by a little over half the same number in 1994, when it reached its maximum. The reasons for this "recession" in juvenile arrests in the U.S. may be attributed to better results in the work of juvenile delinquency prevention as well to increased police discretion when it comes to taking decisions related to the arrest of the juveniles caught in "action." Obvious legal factors, such as "the seriousness of the offense, the amount of evidence available to the officer, whether or not the juvenile appears to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and whether or not the victim requests that the police take, or not take, some kind of action" (http://law.jrank.org/pages/1664/Police-Handling-Juveniles-Explaining-police-decision-making-outcomes-with-juveniles.html) will be the first to influence a police officer's decision to act a certain way in handling a situation involving any sort of juvenile delinquency. The existence of a complainant asking that the juvenile in question be taken into police custody is also another major factor that will decisively contribute to a similar decision.

Police -- juvenile interaction needs further research in order to better establish how the variables usually influence police officers into taking decisions, on one hand, and how these decisions influence the relationship juveniles have with police authority, in general.

In the case involving "Sandra a 15-year-old girl, walking out home from a party at 2 A.M," as a police officer I would want to find out if curfew violation is the only offence. After establishing that the girl is not under the influence of drugs or heavy alcohol consumption and is not disrupting public order, as a police officer I would decide "to handle the case informally." This case, as "one of the most typical type of offence" I encounter in my police officer carrier dealing with juvenilesas well as form my experience as a private person, I know that most of the youth will brake curfew at one point or another in their lives. Curfew violation is less likely to signify a future life of crime or an invitation to subsequently commit felony. Although I would not just let it pass, I would certainly take precautions in handling it and mostly keep it in an informal way of further investigation if there is no evidence of drug consumption and physical violence.

In the second case, I will analyze the gravity of the situation form two points-of-view: Heather's spray painted message and her demeanor. The gravity of her act depends on a large degree on the meaning of the symbols and message she conveyed won the wall. Another important factor would be the means she used to get to the place where I caught her into the act of spray painting. It is a clear case of vandalism, but it might the consequences of Heather's police apprehension are as important to me as those of her behavior on the community and her subsequent behavior. The costs of the damage to public property are to be considered as well.

The third case is without a doubt one that is no longer in the range of the two above mentioned. The 17-year-old has robbed a liquor store and this should be enough reason for me to arrest him. Since the case also includes homicide, it is only for the court of justice to establish the gravity of his crime.