Out-of-control juvenile charged with several juvenile offenses

The criminal justice system pertaining to juveniles is set up to protect the public from anti-social juvenile behavior. At the same time, it attempts to give the juvenile a chance to be tried and rehabilitated in an environment less harsh than the adult system. Although this framework in New Jersey and other states primarily anticipates controllingjuvenile offenses directed toward society, in recent years there’s been a rising tide of offenses committed by juveniles against their own family members.

That was the situation faced by the East Windsor police when they had to subdue and arrest a 14-year-old boy who was rampaging through the home of one of his family members and committing serious property damage. The boy’s family called police after he had damaged three televisions, broke a cast iron bird bath and smashed the windows of two cars owned by family members. He also reportedly harassed family members and physically stopped them from calling 911.

East Windsor police say that the boy added an extra element to the mix: he spat on the arresting officer and damaged the hood and windshield of their car by throwing a large piece of scrap metal on it. He also purportedly challenged police to a fight. They transported him to Capital Health Systems for a psychological evaluation. He was charged with aggravated assault, weapons offenses, throwing bodily fluids, criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, obstruction of justice, and harassment.

Although the control of juvenile offenses is a grave concern nationally and in New Jersey, family members will nonetheless want their child to have a chance to rehabilitate by receiving appropriate professional care and treatment. They will also likely want to ensure that the juvenile is adequately represented during legal proceedings. They’ll likely be concerned that the child be prosecuted as a juvenile and not an adult. Also, in cases like the one reported above, there is a need to challenge the appropriateness and validity of some of the charges, including the piling on of similar charges that tend to duplicate each other.

Source: East Windsor, NJ Patch, “East Windsor Minor Damages Property, Spits on Arresting Officer,” Katrina Rossosl, Feb. 28, 2013