Discuss the juvenile justice process; include a brief description of each step in the process. ...

Police Investigation: When youths commit a crime, police have the authority to investigate the incident and decide whether to release the youths or commit them to the juvenile court. This is often a discretionary decision, based not only on the nature of the offense but also on conditions existing at the time of the arrest.
 Detention: If the police decide to file a petition, the child is referred to juvenile court. The primary decision at this point is whether the child should remain in the -community or be placed in a detention facility or shelter home.
 Pretrial Procedures: In most jurisdictions, the adjudication process begins with some sort of hearing. At this hearing, juvenile court rules normally require that juveniles be informed of their right to a trial, that the plea or admission be voluntary, and that they understand the charges and consequences of the plea. If the child denies the allegation of delinquency, an adjudicatory hearing or trial is scheduled.
 Adjudication: Adjudication is the trial stage of the juvenile court process. If the child does not admit guilt at the initial hearing and is not transferred to an adult court, an adjudication hearing is held to determine the facts of the case.
 Disposition: If the adjudication process finds the child delinquent, the court must decide what should be done to treat the child. Most juvenile court acts require a dispositional hearing separate from the adjudication.
 Treatment: After disposition in juvenile court, delinquent offenders may be placed in some form of correctional treatment. Probation is the most commonly used formal sentence for juvenile offenders, and many states require that a youth fail on probation before being sent to an institution (unless the criminal act is extremely serious).