Juvenile Justice in Missouri
Description: This series of lesson plans explores juvenile justice in Missouri. These lesson plans were developed in response to teachers’ requests for hands-on materials to familiarize students with Missouri’s revised 1995 juvenile code. The lesson plans may be used as a series of lessons or independently of each other.
Grade level(s): 6-12
Objectives:
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To familiarize students with juvenile law in Missouri.
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To make students aware of their rights and responsibilities as juveniles.
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To make students aware of the certification, disposition and sentencing processes.
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To make students aware of the many factors involved in certification proceedings.
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To make students aware of the many factors involved in the sentencing proceedings.
Materials needed: Sufficient handouts. The teacher may also want to obtain a copy for each student of the brochure, Juveniles and the Law, available at no charge from The Missouri Bar, P.O. Box 119, Jefferson City, MO 65102, 314 635-4128.
Lesson Plan 1 - Survey of Missouri's Juvenile Laws
Lesson Plan 2 - When Juveniles are Treated as Adults
Lesson Plan 3 - You Be the Sentencer!
Opinion Poll on Juvenile Law in Missouri
Case for certification exercise - Case 1
Case for certification exercise - Case 2 & 3
Case for certification exercise - Case 4
Case for certification exercise - Case 5
Case for certification exercise - Case 6
Procedure for Juvenile Court Judges - Handout
Sentencing Options for Juveniles - Handout
Juvenile Case 1
Juvenile Case 2
Juvenile Case 3
Juvenile Case 4
Juvenile Case 5
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Juvenile Justice Lesson Plans
Lesson Plan 1 : Survey of Missouri’s Juvenile Laws
1. Explain to the students that they are going to explore some of the basic concepts of Missouri’s juvenile laws.
2. Distribute Handout #1, Opinion Poll on Juvenile Justice in Missouri. Ask the students to complete it carefully. Explain that this is an ungraded exercise and they need not put their names on the paper.
3. After the students have completed the juvenile justice poll, ask one student to serve as a secretary and one student to serve as the clerk. As a class go through each item on the poll. Ask how many students agree, disagree or have no opinion with each statement. Have the clerk count the number of each response and have the secretary record them on the board. Discuss each statement and provide the following information:
Statement #1: A juvenile or minor is anyone under the age of 17.
It depends. Under Missouri law, it depends upon the circumstance as to when someone is a juvenile. Usually anyone under 18 years of age is considered a juvenile. However, anyone 17 or older who is charged with a crime will be considered an adult and tried as one. Consider the following:
You must be 21 to possess, use, or buy alcoholic beverages.
You must be 21 to serve on a jury. (Missouri is only one of two states that do not allow jury service at age 18.
You must be 18 to get married without your parents’ permission. If you are under 15, you must receive permission from a judge to get married.
You may vote at 18.
At age 18, you may sue someone in court and someone may sue you.
You may make a will, sign a contract and sign a lease at age 18.
At age 18, if you are a male, you must register for military service.
You must be at least age 18 to consent to your own medical treatment. If you are under 18 years of age, you must have your parents' permission for any kind of medical treatment, including abortion. There are a few exceptions to this law. Some hospitals or clinics allow you to consent to your own testing and treatment for pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, drug and alcohol abuse, or AIDS at any age. Others allow you to consent to your own treatment only if you have reached age 13. If you are younger than 18 but are married or in the military, you are considered emancipated, or on your own, and you may seek medical treatment without your parents' permission.
At 15 you may get a special license to drive with your parents or guardian At age 16, you may get a conditional driver's license. At age 18, an intermediate driver's licensee who has had no alcohol-related offenses for one year may apply for and receive an unconditional license without additional testing. However, if the person upon reaching the age of eighteen years has had his/her intermediate driver's license and driving privilege denied, suspended, canceled or revoked in Missouri or any other state for any reason, the person may not apply for a full driver's license until such license or driving privilege is fully reinstated.
Age 15, you are treated as an adult under Missouri's traffic laws and will go to a regular traffic court if you violate a traffic law.
At any age, if you are the victim of a crime, you have the right to be paid for damages done to you and to attend any hearings and trials about a case arising from the crime. If the person who committed the crime against you is a juvenile, you may attend the hearings in juvenile court. If the person who committed the crime against you is an adult or will be tried as an adult, you may go to the hearings and the trial in circuit court.
Statement #2: Hitchhiking, although dangerous, is not a crime.
True statement. Hitchhiking, per se, is not a crime in Missouri on Missouri highways. However, the Missouri Highway Patrol routinely checks on all hitchhikers and, if they are juveniles, returns them to their homes. Furthermore, the juvenile authorities could charge a juvenile with a "status" crime. A status crime is an act that is not a criminal act for an adult but is for a juvenile. For example, running away from home is a status crime. Thus, if a hitchhiker were a runaway, he/she would be breaking the law. Another status crime is acting in a way that is injurious to one's health. In some instances, hitchhiking might be considered injurious to one's health. Notes: Although not illegal, the teacher may want to stress the perils of hitchhiking. Students may point out that the signs posted at every access to interstate highways expressly forbid hitchhiking. This is an excellent opportunity to explain that interstates are federally funded and, therefore, federal laws govern them.
Statement #3: It is not a crime to set an abandoned house on fire.
False statement. Burning a building, even an abandoned one, is Second Degree Arson, a Class C felony, Section 569.050 RSMo 1994. An adult convicted of a Class C felony can be imprisoned up to seven (7) years and fined up to $5,000. At this point, the judge should explain that any act that is a crime for a person seventeen (17) and over is also a crime 33for a juvenile. There are also other crimes involving burning. Under 569.055, a person is guilty of a Class D felony if he/she knowingly burns or causes an explosion that damages another's property. A Class D felony is punishable by a prison sentence of up to five (5) years and a fine of up to $5,000. Under 569.060, 569.065 and 569.067, other acts of burning are prohibited. Discussing these crimes certainly impresses upon students that pranks with fires or fireworks can constitute criminal behavior.
Statement #4: If a juvenile is convicted of possessing either alcohol or illegal drugs, it is up to the judge whether the juvenile loses a driver's license for one year.
False statement. Missouri's Abuse and Lose It Law (Section 577.500 RSMo 1994) clearly states that anyone who is found guilty of or pleads guilty to any alcohol or drug related offense shall have his/her license revoked for one year. In other words, the judge must revoke the license of anyone is found guilty of any drug or alcohol related offense and who is under twenty-one years of age. Alcohol and drug related offenses include consumption of, sale of, or possession of alcoholic beverages and illegal drugs.
Statement #5: When a juvenile is stopped by a police officer, the juvenile has the right to remain silent and ask for an attorney.
True statement. When a juvenile officer or a law enforcement officer takes a juvenile into custody, the officer must read the juvenile his Miranda rights, which include the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney. Authorities may keep a juvenile in custody only 24 hours before filing a petition. A petition alleges that the juvenile has committed an offense.
Statement #6: It is not a crime to hide a stolen item for a friend if you have not participated in stealing that item.
False statement. Under Section 570.080, RSMo 1994, it is a Class C felony to receive stolen property. Hiding such property would come under this crime. This would be a good time to stress to the students how riding in a stolen car, being with others who have stolen items, etc. can lead to trouble with the law even if he/she is not involved with the actual crime.
Statement #7. Throwing rolls of toilet paper in someone's yard for fun or smashing Halloween pumpkins is against the law.
True statement. These are common pranks among teenagers and appear harmless. However, several communities are cracking down on these kinds of actions. There are several offenses these actions could come under. First, littering is against the law. Section 577.070, RSMo 1994. Second, trespassing is against the law. Section 569.160.
Statement #8. A juvenile must be at least 14 years old before the court can try him/her as an adult for committing a crime.
False statement. This was the law until the 1995 session of the Missouri Assembly. Now at any age, if you are alleged to have committed a serious offense such as murder, sale of drugs, robbery, rape, or assault, or if you are a repeat offender, the juvenile court may certify you an adult and transfer you to the adult criminal system. At age 12, the juvenile court may also certify you as an adult for other serious crimes, such as stealing a car, drug possession, and carrying a weapon. (Explain to the students that they will learn what is meant by “certify as an adult” in subsequent lessons.)
Statement #9: The judge must treat all juvenile offenders equally.
False statement. Suppose two 15-year-old boys are brought before the judge. Both have been accused of stealing a car. The judge has several options available for dealing with the juvenile. For example, the judge can return the juvenile to his home in the custody of his parents with visits to be made to the home regularly by a juvenile officer. The judge can return the juvenile to the custody of his parents with the agreement that the parents and the juvenile visit a juvenile center periodically for counseling the judge can place the juvenile in foster care. The judge can place the juvenile in a group home or place the juvenile in a juvenile detention center or other institution. In deciding what to do with the juvenile car thieves, the judge will consider each boy's attitude, number of times he has been in trouble, his school record, his family life and the kinds of friends he has. Unless each boy has the exact same background, it is unlikely that the judge will dispose of the cases in the same manner.
Statement #10: At age 17, all juvenile records are destroyed and a juvenile offender begins adulthood with a clean record.
False statement. At age 17, a juvenile offender may ask the court to destroy juvenile records but the court does not have to destroy the records. The records may be used by the military to refuse admittance into military service. Probation officers may use the records in the event the juvenile offender commits crimes as an adult. The records may surface in a background check for someone wanting to become a lawyer or FBI agent. The records may be used for impeachment purposes at a trial. Indeed legislators every year consider making the juvenile record less confidential. For example, for years, the names of juvenile offenders were kept strictly confidential. Now the victim and the victim's family have the right to know the name of the juvenile offender. They have the right to attend the hearing where the judge makes a decision about the disposition of the juvenile's case, and to speak at the hearing about the impact the juvenile's actions have had on their lives.
Statement #11: Anyone with any kind of driver’s license is treated as an adult under Missouri's traffic laws.
True statement. The juvenile court does not have jurisdiction over juveniles who violate traffic laws. The State of Missouri has decided that anyone who has attained the age of 15 1\2 is responsible enough to drive. Therefore, for the purposes of all laws related to driving, anyone over 15 1\2 is considered an adult and will appear in regular traffic court. (See 211.031 (3). However, if a juvenile is charged with a felony related to driving such as vehicular manslaughter, the juvenile will be referred to the juvenile court.
Statement #12: Having a switchblade handy under the car seat is a crime.
True statement. Under Section 571.030, RSMo 1994, having a weapon--something capable of lethal use--on your person or having such items readily available such as under your car seat, in a glove box or in a console case constitutes the crime of unlawful use of a weapon.
Statement #13: Skipping school may make my parents angry but it is not against the law.
False statement. Children between the ages of 7 and 16 must be in school (See Chapter 167 RSMo 1994). If a juvenile is caught "skipping" school, the juvenile may be charged with the "status" crime of truancy.
Statement #14: A judge may not place a juvenile offender in a juvenile detention center the first time the juvenile commits a crime.
False statement. No one who commits a crime is entitled to "one bite of the apple." If a judge determines that a juvenile would benefit from being placed in a detention center, even if the juvenile has never been in trouble before, the judge has the discretion to do so.
ENRICHMENT:
1. The teacher may want to follow-up this lesson with the lesson that follows this one, When Are Juveniles Treated As Adults.
2. The teacher could ask the students what they believe are the strengths and weaknesses of weaknesses of Missouri's juvenile laws. The teacher could invite the students to make suggestions as to what changes they would make in the law and send their ideas to their state legislators.
3. A legislator who has sponsored juvenile law legislation could be asked to speak to the class.
4. The class could visit the General Assembly while juvenile law changes are being debated.
Lesson Plan 2: When Juveniles Are Treated As Adults
1. This lesson plan is about certification—the process whereby a judge determines if a juvenile should stand trial as an adult for the crime with which the juvenile is charged. If anyone under age 17 is charged with a crime, the case begins in the juvenile court. The juvenile judge will determine if a juvenile should be “certified” to stand trial as an adult.
2. Distribute Handout #2. As a class read the age requirements for when a juvenile may be certified.
3. The teacher should discuss with the students the serious implications of a juvenile being certified to stand trial as an adult. Some of the most serious are: a) If convicted, the juvenile will have criminal convictions in his record for the rest of his life, b) If convicted, the juvenile can be sent to adult prisons, and c) If convicted, if the juvenile commits further offenses, he/she will always be considered an adult.
4. The class should explore together the factors a judge considers in the certification process. (See Handout #2).
5. The teacher should then divide the students into five groups. The teacher should then distribute Cases 1-6 to the respective groups. (Cases 2 and 3 are related and can be done by one group.) Each group should discuss its case and list reasons for and against certification based on the factors in Handout #3. Each group should then choose a person to play a judge, a bailiff, a lawyer who argues for certification and a lawyer who argues against certification. Each group should then do a certification hearing on its case for the entire class. At the end of the hearing, the judge should “retire” to consider the case, out of the hearing of the rest of the class. While the judge is considering the case, the class should discuss how they would rule. The judge should then render his or her decision and give the reasons for the decision. The class should compare and contrast their decision with that of the judge.
6. Handout #3 is the procedure for the hearing judge to use.
7. At the end of all the cases, the teacher should announce that all six of the cases were based on actual Missouri cases (all fictitious names and locations) and the results in actual cases were as follows:
Case 1—Jenny was not certified. The judge ordered her into an institution for alcohol counseling.
Cases 2 and 3—Julie was not certified and was placed in a juvenile detention center. Jack was certified, found guilty of endangering the welfare of his child and given five years’ probation.
Case 4—Jim was not certified. He was placed on 4 years’ probation. Jim is now in his mid-20s, a college graduate who gives inspirational talks to young people about getting a second chance.
Case 5—Bill was not certified. He was placed on probation. The major component of his probation was that he was to come to the school nurse’s office every morning and every noon and take his medicine in front of the nurse. He adhered to that schedule. Bill is now an adult who volunteers as a Big Brother and tries to help kids who are hyperactive and prone to trouble.
Case 6—Adam was certified to stand trial as an adult. He was found guilty of second-degree assault and is serving a ten-year sentence in a Missouri correctional facility.
8. The teacher should ask the class what they found surprising or difficult about the certification process.
Lesson Plan #3: You Be the Sentencer!
1. The teacher should tell the class that this lesson will be about the various ways that judges can deal with juvenile offenders. The lesson will also explore the factors that judges look at when deciding what to do with a juvenile offender or an adult criminal.
2. Ask the students if they have ever heard the expression, “Let the punishment fit the crime.” Making the punishment fit the crime is a challenge juvenile and trial court judges have with every conviction. In juvenile court, the judge determines the sentence because there are no juries.
3. The teacher should then ask the students if they have ever wondered why two people who have committed the same crime are not given the same punishment. The teacher should then explain that this lesson will clarify this issue by examining the various factors involved in making a sentencing decision.
4. The teacher should then distribute Handout #4. The teacher and students should go over Sentencing Options, Sentencing Factors, and Probation Guidelines.
5. The teacher should divide the class into five groups. Each group should be given a juvenile case. Each group should discuss its cases explore various sentencing options. Each group should consider what the minimum sentence should be and what the maximum sentence should be, based on the factors in Handout #4. Each group should then choose a person to play a judge, a bailiff, a lawyer who argues for maximum sentencing and a lawyer who argues for minimum sentencing. Each group should then do a sentencing hearing on its case for the entire class. At the end of the hearing, the judge should “retire” to consider the case, out of the hearing of the rest of the class. While the judge is considering the case, the class should discuss how they would rule. The judge should then render his or her decision and give the reasons for the decision. The class should compare and contrast their decision with that of the judge.
6. The teacher should ask the students what surprised them or what they found difficult with the sentencing process.
Opinion Poll on Juvenile Law in Missouri
Directions: Read the statements below and decide whether you agree (A), disagree (D), or are undecided (U). Be prepared to discuss your opinions with the classes. Remember this is not a test that will affect your grade.
1. A juvenile is anyone under the age of 17. agree disagree undecided
2. Hitchhiking, although dangerous, is not a crime. agree disagree undecided
3. It is not a crime to set an abandoned house on fire. agree disagree undecided
4. If a juvenile is convicted of possessing either alcohol or illegal drugs, it is up to the judge whether the juvenile loses a driver's license for one year. agree disagree undecided
5. When a juvenile is stopped by a police officer, the juvenile has the right to remain silent and ask for an attorney. agree disagree undecided
6. It is not a crime to hide a stolen item for a friend if you have not participated in the stealing of that item. agree disagree undecided
7. Throwing rolls of toilet paper in someone's yard for fun and smashing Halloween pumpkins are against the law. agree disagree undecided
8. A juvenile must be at least 14 years old before the court may try the juvenile as an adult.
agree disagree undecided
9. The judge must treat all juvenile offenders equally. agree disagree undecided
10. At age 17, all juvenile records are destroyed and a juvenile offender begins adulthood with a clean record. agree disagree undecided
11. Anyone with any kind of driver’s license is treated as an adult under Missouri's traffic laws.
agree disagree undecided
12. Having a switchblade handy under your car seat is a crime. agree disagree undecided
13. Skipping school may make my parents angry but it is not against the law.
agree disagree undecided
14. The judge may not place a juvenile offender in a foster home when the juvenile has committed only one crime. agree disagree undecided
AGE LIMITS FOR CERTIFICATION
You may be tried as an adult for any crime committed at age 17 or older. If you commit an offense at age 16 or younger, the police will refer your case to the juvenile court. At any age, if you are alleged to have committed a serious offense such as murder, sale of drugs, robbery, rape, or assault, or if you are a repeat offender, the juvenile court may certify you as an adult and transfer you to the adult criminal system. At age 12, the juvenile court can also certify you as an adult for other serious crimes, such as stealing a car, drug possession, and carrying a weapon.
(See Section 211.071 RSMo. Supp. 1995)
Factors a Judge Considers in a Certification Hearing
- The #1 factor a judge will consider is whether the alleged offense was against people or against property. If the offense was against people and the people were injured, there is a greater chance that the juvenile offender will be certified as an adult.
- Whether the alleged offense involved viciousness, force or violence.
- The seriousness of the offense and whether the community needs protection from the juvenile offender.
- Whether the alleged offense is a part of a repetitive pattern that indicates the juvenile offender cannot be rehabilitated by the juvenile justice system. In other words, the court will look at whether the juvenile offender has committed these same kinds of crimes before and if he/she has, the judge will carefully consider whether the juvenile offender can really be helped in the juvenile system.
- The sophistication and maturity of the juvenile offender. Does the juvenile offender appear and act as an adult in most situations? Does the juvenile offender understand the difference between right and wrong?
- The age of the juvenile offender.
- The program and facilities available to the juvenile court. Does the juvenile justice system have a place suitable to house the juvenile offender? Does the juvenile offender need the more restricted atmosphere of an adult corrections facility such as prison? (Keep in mind that Missouri now has several maximum juvenile facilities.)
(See Section 211.071 RSMo Supp. 1995)
Case 1
Jenny, age 16, hits a 9-year-old girl playing on the street in front of her house. The little girl is seriously injured and may be permanently disabled. When the police arrived, they suspected that Jenny had been drinking. Tests showed that Jenny's blood alcohol level at that time was .13. Jenny did not have a driver’s license because she had a previous DWI and the state had suspended her license.
Jenny is an above average student in school. She lives with both of her parents. Jenny's mother is an alcoholic and has occasionally beaten her daughter. Jenny likes school but hates her home life.
Should Jenny stand trial as an adult for second-degree assault? See Section 565.060(3) RSMo 1994--A person commits second-degree assault if he/she causes physical injury to someone while operating a motor vehicle in an intoxicated condition.
Cases 2 and 3
Julie, age 15, and her boyfriend, Jack, age 16, run away from home and take their 3-month-old baby girl with them. They are living in Jack’s car. Eventually, Jack finds work at minimum wage at McDonald's and they move into an old motel. Julie has to stay with their baby. Jack suggests that they give up their baby because they cannot afford a child and they cannot take care of her. After a long discussion, Jack and Julie decide to leave the child, wrapped in a blanket on the steps of a church. During the night, the baby became cold and ill. When the minister found the baby, he rushed her to the hospital. Shortly after being admitted to the hospital, the baby died of pneumonia.
The police are able to trace the baby back to Julie and Jack. They admit to abandoning their baby. Prior to this incident, Jack’s only trouble with the law has been truancy. Julie had run away once before.
Should Julie and Jack be certified to standing trial as adults for the death of their child?
Jim, age 14, and a group of guys he hangs out with, break in to Central High School one night. Some of the guys are 18. Jim is the youngest in the group. The guys vandalize the science lab and the students’ lockers. Some of the guys decide to steal the computers and VCRs out of the school media center.
The night janitor sees the boys and begins to chase them. Jim is almost caught by the janitor, but just as the janitor reaches Jim, the janitor slips and hits his head. The boys manage to get away and take the computers and VCRs with them. The janitor is able to get to a telephone and call the police. The janitor is only able to identify Jim. Jim is arrested and the police take Jim into custody.
Jim lives with his mother and four other brothers and sisters. Jim's mother and father are divorced. His mother works two jobs. Jim has been in juvenile court twice before for illegal possession of alcohol.
Should Jim be tried as an adult for burglary, stealing and vandalism?
Case 5
Bill, a 15-year-old high school student, has been diagnosed as being hyperactive. Bill has had this condition for several years and doctors have prescribed a special medicine, Ritalin, to control his behavior. When Bill does not take his medication, he sometimes loses control and becomes violent. This has happened to Bill a couple of times and although no one was hurt, he was once suspended from school for fighting. Bill admitted to his mother that he has stopped taking his medication on these occasions. Bill's mother warned him that he must take his medication and reminded him that he must act responsibly.
Some of Bill's friends at school dared him to stop taking his medicine. They also talked Bill into trying a marijuana cigarette. Unknown to Bill, the marijuana cigarette had been laced with other drugs. After taking the drugs, Bill became violent. He picked up a baseball bat and severely beat a classmate who had been teasing him. The classmate had a fractured skull and several cracked ribs.
Should Bill be tried as an adult for possession of illegal drugs? for assault?
CASE 6
Adam is a 15 year-old boy who is in the top 10% of his class. He has had some skirmishes with the law. When he was 13, he and three classmates were arrested for possessing alcohol and marijuana. He was put on probation and did community service. Although he is a good student, he has been suspended three times for fighting.
Adam and some of his friends are great fans of their high school football team. After their team won in overtime against a major rival, Adam and his friends encountered some kids from the rival high school. Words were exchanged, then a few punches were thrown and then a major fight broke out. One of the kids from the other school was someone who was dating a girl Adam wanted to date. This particular kids kept taunting Adam. Adam picked up a bottle, broke it and assaulted this kid with it. When the police arrived, they called an ambulance. The kid that Adam had assaulted needed over 100 stitches for the cuts on his face and head. He also lost an eye.
Should Adam be tried as an adult for assault?
PROCEDURE FOR JUVENILE COURT JUDGES
1. Say: You may be seated.
2. Say: This is the case of__________________. We are trying to decide if we should certify this juvenile as an adult and send the case to the circuit court.
3. Read case.
4. Say: Are the parties ready?
5. Say: Prosecutor you may begin.
6. (After prosecutor is finished with his/her case): Defense attorney, you may present your case.
7. Say: I will take the case under advisement. (Take a few minutes to make the decision.)
8. Announce decision: Based on (name the factors that made you decide the case), I have decided (to certify not to certify).
9. Thank the parties.
SENTENCING OPTIONS FOR JUVENILES
1. Community service
2. Counseling
3. Foster home
4. Juvenile detention center for a short time
5. Juvenile detention for an extended period of time
6. Probation--supervised
7. Probation unsupervised
8. Commitment to a mental health institution
1. Did the crime involve bodily harm to another person or harm to another person's property?
2. Were the offender's actions brutal, dangerous, and callous, or were they unintentional and restrained?
3. Was the victim also involved in criminal activity, aggressive, or was the victim caught unaware, possibly even vulnerable mentally or physically?
4. Did the offense involve a weapon of some sort?
5. Did the offender act alone, was he the leader of a group committing crime, or was he a follower in a group that committed the crime?
6. Has the offender been convicted of other crimes and how serious were the prior convictions?
7. Was the offender deliberate and calculating or was the offender provoked or under some sort of stress?
8. Is the offender hostile and defiant or does the offender admit guilt and show remorse?
JUVENILE CASE #1
Name: Mary Carrell
Age: 16
Offense: Minor in Possession of Alcohol
Education: A junior in high school
Previous record: Previous alcohol violations and one previous shoplifting charge.
Mary is a fairly good student and has a good home life. There are no indications that she has behavior problems at school. Her parents admit that they are frustrated with Mary and that they are not sure what they can do to keep her out of trouble with the law. When Mary was arrested for MIP, she was at a party with other juveniles. Her previous MIP charges stemmed from similar incidents.
JUVENILE CASE #2
Name: Clay Johnson
Age: 15
Offense: Stealing an automobile
Education: A sophomore in high school
Previous record: None.
Clay confessed to stealing a sports car that belongs to his neighbor. He said that he only meant to take it for a spin and then return it. When the police arrested Clay, there was a 14-year-old girl in the vehicle with him. The police also found beer in the car but there was no indication that either of the minors had been drinking. Clay is an honor student, on the basketball team and a member of Young Life, a Christian youth program. His parents are divorced. He lives with his father, who is an attorney.
JUVENILE CASE #3
Name: Michele Potts
Age: 16
Offense: Burglary and vandalism
Education: Dropped out of school during her sophomore year.
Previous record: Possession of marijuana; burglary of an elementary school
Michele broke into her old high school with another friend. They spray painted about twenty student lockers and wrote obscenities on the principal’s office with permanent markers. Michele works at McDonald’s. She lives with her mother.
JUVENILE CASE #4
Name: Andy Wax
Age: 14
Offense: Assault
Education: Freshman in high school with average grades
Previous record: None
Andy got into a fight at school with a senior boy. Andy plays junior varsity basketball and, like many of the freshmen team members, he is constantly harassed by upperclassmen. Andy finally just got fed up and started throwing some punches. When the older boy slipped and fell, Andy continued to hit him and kicked him in the head until he was unconscious. Andy lives with his mother and stepfather. His father died five years ago.
Name: Sarah Jackson
Age: 16
Offense: Selling marijuana on school grounds
Education: Junior in high school
Previous record: Four prior encounters with the law: one for public nudity (mooning the student body while playing in the band during a school assembly), one for minor in possession of alcohol, one for tampering with a vehicle, and one for selling marijuana to elementary students.
Sarah has allegedly has been selling drugs for almost three years. She is a fairly pleasant person, well liked by her peers. She has a C- average. Sarah lives with her father who is a computer programmer and her mother who is a college professor. She has three older brothers, one who is a professional football player, one is studying to be a doctor, and one who is studying to be a priest. Her parents have had her in counseling for two years.