NCJ Number
177945
Journal
Virginia Sheriff Volume: 22 Issue: 1 Dated: Spring 1999 Pages: 39-41-42
Date Published
1999
Length
3 pages
Annotation
Virginia's Juvenile Justice Reform Act represents an effort to attain a balance between punishing serious violent offenders and rehabilitating young people who can be reformed.
Abstract
The legislation has implemented three major changes to the juvenile justice system in Virginia: (1) juveniles aged 14 years and older charged with the most serious crimes, such as murder and aggravated malicious wounding, are tried as adults in circuit court; (2) juveniles aged 14 years and older charged with serious crimes, such as armed robbery, rape, and car-jacking, are tried as adults in circuit court upon the motion of the Commonwealth's Attorney; and (3) circuit and juvenile court judges have innovative sentencing options, such as military boot camps, and also have the option of sentencing a juvenile as an adult but suspending the sentence pending the juvenile's successful completion of a sentence in a juvenile facility or program. In addition, the legislation has opened courtroom proceedings in juvenile court to the public in felony crime cases. Progress made in reducing juvenile crime and violence in Virginia and continuing efforts to improve the State's juvenile justice system are noted.