March 04, 2011 (Press-News.org) Children who face criminal charges, along with their families, may have some concerns about the legal process. They may feel compelled to ask advice from a South Carolina juvenile defense lawyer about student alcohol and drug charges, an alleged assault, burglary or sexting. But the first thing they need to know is that juvenile crimes are prosecuted in the Family Court system involving different procedures than adult crimes, with important exceptions.
Recent discussion about reforms of the South Carolina criminal justice system has advocated a holistic approach to the experience of children within the criminal justice system, both as victims and as alleged juvenile offenders. "If you have a juvenile who has done something wrong, you can't treat that child in isolation. You've got to go out and look at the family, look at the neighborhood," Bill Byars, a former family court judge, former director of the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) and the new head of the SC Department of Corrections recently told the Greenville News.
Under Byars's leadership, the number of South Carolina juvenile referrals and detentions dropped drastically, whereas the system previously had a reputation for turning some juvenile offenders into hardened criminals, and was ultimately subjected to federal judicial oversight. But recognizing that high rates of domestic violence and other difficulties play a complex part in children's lives, Byars and others advocate that various government agencies must cooperate and share resources to best use scarce state funds and better serve young people.
The South Carolina Juvenile Justice Process
Juvenile cases can proceed in various ways after a boy or girl has been referred to the DJJ. The prosecutor, known as the Circuit Solicitor, can divert the case to drug court, juvenile arbitration or another community program, or require payment of restitution. Based on DJJ interviews of the juvenile and the circumstances of the alleged offense, the Solicitor may also decide to dismiss a case.
If the Solicitor decides to prosecute, the delinquency determination and sentencing will be carried out by a family court judge -- there is no right to a jury in South Carolina juvenile trials. But one major exception exists: a juvenile 14 years of age or older may be tried as an adult if charged with certain felonies, based on a variety of factors. For juveniles under 16, such determinations must be made in Family Court.
In all cases, a consultation with a juvenile criminal defense attorney can provide a great deal of additional detail about the prospects for prosecution and possible legal strategies. Regardless of the level of crime involved, sound legal advice can make a great deal of difference in a child's life with future interests at stake.
Article provided by Matt Bodman PA
Visit us at www.mattbodmanlaw.com
South Carolina Juvenile Justice: Protecting Children's Best Interests
Recent discussion about reforms of the South Carolina criminal justice system has advocated a holistic approach to the experience of children within the criminal justice system, both as victims and as alleged juvenile offenders.
2011-03-04
ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:
Latest findings of Dartmouth HIV/AIDS study could turn treatment 'on its head'
2011-03-04
LEBANON, NH - A clinical study of anti-HIV/AIDS medicines in the developing world is on the verge of turning "the whole treatment world on its head," according to Dartmouth pediatrician Paul Palumbo.
Palumbo, a professor of pediatric medicine at Dartmouth Medical School and executive director of the Dartmouth-affiliated DarDar Pediatric program in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, unveiled the latest findings of the International Maternal Pediatric Adolescent AIDS Clinical Trials Group (IMPAACT ) during the 2011 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) in ...
Researchers find new mechanism behind the formation and maintenance of long-term memories
2011-03-04
Researchers from Mount Sinai School of Medicine have found that lactate, a type of energy fuel in the brain, plays a critical role in the formation of long-term memory. These findings have important implications for common illnesses like Alzheimer's disease, other neurodegenerative disorders, aging-related memory impairment and diabetes. The research is published in the March 4th issue of the journal Cell.
The study is the first to closely evaluate the role of lactate and the effect of its transport from astrocytes—a subtype of brain cells—to neurons in long-term memory ...
The Forgotten Laborer
2011-03-04
The White House has created a panel comprised of 18 members to consider changes to Social Security in order to keep it solvent. Among the changes being considered is raising the retirement age. One Republican representative has called for raising the retirement age as high as 70 over the next 20 years; some Democrats are endorsing similar steps.
These considerations and discussions focus largely on employees who work sedentary or less demanding jobs at desks and computers. Lawmakers and those promoting raising the retirement age are comprised largely of those who spent ...
Researchers pinpoint genetic pathways involved in breast cancer
2011-03-04
EAST LANSING, Mich. — Using recent advances in genomics, researchers have uncovered a genetic pathway that affects the development of breast cancer, work that could help predict which patients are at risk of relapse for the disease.
By studying which genes are expressed – or "turned on" – in breast cancer, research led by Michigan State University's Eran Andrechek uncovered a role for several members of the E2F family of genes, which control cell division and growth.
Specifically, Andrechek's team found the activation of the specific gene E2F2 was associated with a ...
Study Finds Mandatory Alcohol Testing for Truck Drivers Has Paid Off
2011-03-04
A study conducted by researchers at Columbia University found that mandatory alcohol testing of motor carrier drivers has resulted in a significant decrease in fatal crashes involving truck, bus and other commercial drivers and alcohol use. The study was published in the American Journal of Epidemiology.
This study was the first of its kind to provide empirical evidence that the 1995 federal regulations requiring those holding commercial driver's licenses to undergo mandatory testing for alcohol have had an impact on decreasing the incidence of multi-vehicle drunk driving ...
Genetic analysis reveals history, evolution of an ancient delicacy -- morels
2011-03-04
CORVALLIS, Ore. – Dinosaurs squashed them with impunity. Thousands of species that lacked culinary appreciation have turned up their noses at them. And a study based on advanced DNA analysis has shown that this shameful indifference went on for 129 million years.
Finally, however, one animal species came along that would learn to appreciate this particular fungus with almost a global reverence – homo sapiens. Thus was born the human affection for the morel – for millions of people around the world, it's what you mean when you say "mushroom hunting."
Spring is coming ...
LAMMPS supercomputer code developer earns special recognition
2011-03-04
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Sandia National Laboratories researcher Steve Plimpton, who led development of a widely used computer code that models how materials behave, has been invited to present a keynote lecture at the Feb. 27-March 3 Minerals, Materials & Materials Society (TMS) meeting in San Diego.
Plimpton developed the LAMMPS molecular-dynamics software code. The acronym LAMMPS (Large-scale Atomic/Molecular Massively Parallel Simulator) is also a pun on the word "lamp," a device that brings light to dark places.
"This symposium [on Massively Parallel Simulations of ...
Florida Will Contest Involving Ponzi Scheme Funds Settled
2011-03-04
A recent settlement involving the estate of the late Jacksonville financial adviser Wayne McLeod is the latest example of how legal complexities can encroach upon the timely resolution of an estate. At the time of his suicide, McLeod's financial services firm was under investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission. This investigation revealed that McLeod's alleged financial planning prowess was actually a large "Ponzi" scheme.
A significant portion of McLeod's estate will now be used to repay the defrauded investors. McLeod's wife will keep some of her jewelry ...
Student innovation at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute could lead to better breast cancer screening
2011-03-04
Troy, N.Y. – Recent research by doctoral student Sevan Goenezen holds the promise of becoming a powerful new weapon in the fight against breast cancer. His complex computational research has led to a fast, inexpensive new method for using ultrasound and advanced algorithms to differentiate between benign and malignant tumors with a high degree of accuracy.
Goenezen, a student in the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Nuclear Engineering at Rensselaer, is one of three finalists for the 2011 $30,000 Lemelson-MIT Rensselaer Student Prize. A public ceremony announcing ...
Rise in Discrimination Class Action Settlements
2011-03-04
According to the Annual Workplace Class Action Litigation Report, the value of class action employment discrimination settlements has gone up substantially over the past year. The report notes that, in 2010, the value of the top ten settlements was $346 million. By comparison, the total value of the ten largest settlements in 2009 was $84.4 million.
The settlement in Velez v. Novartis Corp., a federal case from the Southern District of New York, accounts for over half of this years' total. The case was originally filed in 2004 by Amy Velez and four female coworkers who ...
LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:
Insulin resistance is linked to over 30 diseases – and to early death in women, study of people in the UK finds
Innovative semaglutide hydrogel could reduce diabetes shots to once a month
Weight loss could reduce the risk of severe infections in people with diabetes, UK research suggests
Long-term exposure to air pollution and a lack of green space increases the risk of hospitalization for respiratory conditions
Better cardiovascular health in early pregnancy may offset high genetic risk
Artificial intelligence method transforms gene mutation prediction in lung cancer: DeepGEM data releases at IASLC 2024 World Conference on Lung Cancer
Antibody–drug conjugate I-DXd shows clinically meaningful response in patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer
IASLC Global Survey on biomarker testing reveals progress and persistent barriers in lung cancer biomarker testing
Research shows pathway to developing predictive biomarkers for immune checkpoint inhibitors
Just how dangerous is Great Salt Lake dust? New research looks for clues
Maroulas appointed Associate Vice Chancellor, Director of AI Tennessee
New chickadee research finds cognitive skills impact lifespan
Cognitive behavioral therapy enhances brain circuits to relieve depression
Terasaki Institute awarded $2.3 Million grant from NIH for organ transplantation research using organs-on-a-chip technology
Atoms on the edge
Postdoc takes multipronged approach to muon detection
Mathematical proof: Five satellites needed for precise navigation
Scalable, multi-functional device lays groundwork for advanced quantum applications
Falling for financial scams? It may signal early Alzheimer’s disease
Integrating MRI and OCT for new insights into brain microstructure
Designing a normative neuroimaging library to support diagnosis of traumatic brain injury
Department of Energy announces $68 million in funding for artificial intelligence for scientific research
DOE, ORNL announce opportunity to define future of high-performance computing
Molecular simulations, supercomputing lead to energy-saving biomaterials breakthrough
Low-impact yoga and exercise found to help older women manage urinary incontinence
Genetic studies reveal new insights into cognitive impairment in schizophrenia
Researcher develops technology to provide cleaner energy and cleaner water
Expect the unexpected: nanoscale silver unveils intrinsic self-healing abilities
nTIDE September 2024 Jobs Report: Gains in employment for people with disabilities appear to level off after reducing gaps with non-disabled workers
Wiley enhances NMR Spectral Library Collection with extensive new databases
[Press-News.org] South Carolina Juvenile Justice: Protecting Children's Best InterestsRecent discussion about reforms of the South Carolina criminal justice system has advocated a holistic approach to the experience of children within the criminal justice system, both as victims and as alleged juvenile offenders.