What is the federal criminal justice system's approach to sentencing juveniles?

The federal criminal justice system has a unique approach to sentencing juveniles when they are convicted of a crime. Federal law recognizes that juveniles are different from adults and does not impose the same punishments on juveniles as those applicable to adults. Generally, the juvenile justice system is focused on rehabilitation rather than punishment, and juvenile offenders are typically tried in juvenile court. The federal government has the power to prosecute juveniles who are considered to be “delinquent” and have committed certain enumerated offenses. These offenses may be tried in either a federal or a state court. In both of these courts, the key principle in determining an appropriate punishment for a juvenile is that the punishment is proportionate to the severity of the juvenile’s offense and the juvenile’s age, history, and background. When juveniles are convicted of a federal crime, the sentencing decision is left to the discretion of the judge. The sentencing judge has the power to impose punishments such as fines, probation, home confinement, community service, restitution, and incarceration. However, federal law does not allow for the death penalty or life imprisonment without parole for juveniles. If the juvenile is sentenced to a term of incarceration, it is usually much shorter than the sentence an adult would receive, and the juvenile will usually be released after a period of time determined by the court. The federal criminal justice system is focused on helping juvenile offenders to gain the skills and resources they need to be contributing members of society, and upon their release, many juvenile offenders have access to support services and other resources to help them reintegrate into the community.

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What is the federal criminal justice system's approach to sentencing juveniles?

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