Summative Assessment: Juvenile vs. Adult Justice System Paper
Complete the following in your paper:
Summarize the case you chose and the legal issues facing the juvenile and the court.
Define the role and key parameters of the juvenile justice system.
Explain the function of juvenile vs. adult courts.
Summarize the court’s philosophy of juvenile justice used in this case.
Explain how law enforcement and the courts might have interacted differently with this person as a juvenile than if he or she had been an adult.
Summarize the rights and confidentiality protections that exist for this juvenile that are not the same for adults.
Which community-based program do you think will be best suited to assist the troubled youth in your chosen scenario to help prevent further crimes? Justify your suggestions based on history, trends, causation theories, and the potential for reform. Use current statistics and data to support your claims.
Use language and terms appropriate for each justice system when comparing juveniles versus adults.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Essay on Juvenile vs. Adult Justice System: A Comparative Analysis
In the case of John, a 16-year-old involved in a theft incident, the legal issues facing him revolve around juvenile delinquency and the appropriate legal response to his actions. John’s case raises questions about how the juvenile justice system differs from the adult justice system in terms of rehabilitation, accountability, and legal procedures.
Role and Parameters of the Juvenile Justice System
The juvenile justice system is designed to address the specific needs of young offenders, focusing on rehabilitation and reintegration into society rather than punishment. Key parameters of the juvenile justice system include an emphasis on confidentiality, diversion programs, and individualized treatment plans tailored to meet the needs of each juvenile offender.
Function of Juvenile vs. Adult Courts
Juvenile courts aim to rehabilitate young offenders by providing counseling, education, and community-based programs. In contrast, adult courts primarily focus on punishment and deterrence through incarceration or fines. Juvenile courts prioritize the best interests of the child, while adult courts emphasize accountability for criminal behavior.
Court’s Philosophy of Juvenile Justice in this Case
In John’s case, the court’s philosophy of juvenile justice centers on rehabilitation and addressing the underlying factors contributing to his delinquent behavior. The court aims to provide John with counseling, educational support, and community services to help him make positive changes in his life and prevent future criminal activities.
Interaction with Law Enforcement and Courts
Law enforcement and the courts would interact differently with John as a juvenile compared to an adult. As a juvenile, John may be referred to diversion programs, counseling services, or community-based interventions aimed at addressing his behavior and preventing further involvement in criminal activities. In contrast, if John were an adult, he might face harsher penalties and be processed through the adult criminal justice system, focusing more on punishment than rehabilitation.
Rights and Confidentiality Protections for Juveniles
Juveniles have specific rights and confidentiality protections that differ from those of adults. For example, juvenile records are often sealed or expunged to protect the juvenile’s future opportunities. Juveniles also have the right to legal representation, special protections during questioning, and the opportunity for rehabilitation rather than incarceration in many cases.
Community-Based Program for Troubled Youth
For John, a community-based program that focuses on mentoring, educational support, and skill-building could be beneficial in preventing further crimes. Programs that offer vocational training, mental health services, and positive youth development activities have shown success in reducing recidivism rates among juvenile offenders. Evidence-based interventions tailored to address John’s specific needs and risk factors are crucial for promoting long-term behavioral change and preventing future criminal behavior.
In conclusion, the juvenile justice system plays a vital role in addressing the unique needs of young offenders like John. By prioritizing rehabilitation, individualized treatment plans, and community-based interventions, the juvenile justice system can help troubled youth like John overcome challenges, make positive changes, and avoid further involvement in criminal activities. Through a holistic approach that combines legal protections, supportive services, and evidence-based programs, we can work towards reforming juvenile justice and promoting positive outcomes for youth in conflict with the law.
