Juvenile Justice: The Psychology of Juvenile Offenders in A Court Setting

Intern/Mentorship Program2007-2008

County Mission Statement:“The High School Gifted and Talented Research courses

empower students to contribute to the larger community by applying,

creating, and evaluating knowledge in a specialized area of study.”

Matt Hoyt

Senior Assistant State’s Attorney

Ms. Mary Murphy

Glenelg High School

Contact Info:(410)-489-7379

matthyt@gmail.comMs. Murphy

mmurphy@howardcountymd.gov

There is crime, and then there is arraignment, bail review, discovery processes, preliminary hearings, an

arraignment in trial court, pretrial conferences, motion hearings, jury selection processes, peremptory challenges, trial, sentencing, and,

finally, punishment...maybe.

Crime and Punishment, Right?

Juvenile Delinquency and the System

• 2.8 million juvenile delinquents are arrested annually, 1.8 million are convicted of criminal offenses.

• The juvenile justice system that processes most of these convictions emphasizes rehabilitation rather than punishment.

• A small proportion (1 in 250 children 10-17) are transferred into adult court for violent crimes.

What’s Justice to a Juvenile?

• Violent Crimes: – Aggravated assault, Homicide,

Rape, Robbery

• A Juvenile in an Adult Court:– The juvenile court waives or

relinquishes its jurisdiction

• Psychological Impact and Understanding (Competency)

• Punishment vs. Rehabilitation?

What I’m Doing:

• Internship at the State’s Attorney’s Office of Howard County– Read through case material

• Pending murder trial with juvenile defendant (Monti Mantrice Fleming).

• Police reports, evidence, evaluations, interviews, news, etc.

– Watch cases at Circuit Court• Following this alleged juvenile

offender through court progressions.

– Access Legal Library

My Personal Mission…

• This year, as part of my research, I particularly want to study:– Law: Juvenile Justice

• Punishing minor offenders as adults• Incarcerated youth in juvenile and adult penitentiaries• Adult Crime?

– Psychology: Juvenile Competency and Criminal Responsibility• State of mind during crime and at trial• Age a juvenile can be accountable• Adult Mind?

– Violent Crimes and the formal response• Legal precedent and legislation• Adult Time?

And as my goal…

• I want to follow a juvenile through the process of being charged as an adult (ongoing).

• Document the prominence of juvenile crime in Howard County (statistics and trends).

• Evaluate juvenile justice standards in Howard County and Maryland.