Juvenile Judges Have Discretion

A teen recently got a taste of the discretion held by Utah juvenile judges, when her punishment was tailored to fit her crime.

Give That Girl a Haircut

The 13-year-old girl and a younger friend opted to reach outside their boundaries and give a 3-year-old at a local fast food restaurant a haircut—without permission. When the teen and her mother appeared in juvenile court sometime later, the judge doled out the punishment: 30 days in detention and nearly 300 hours in community service. However, the judge offered to shorten the community service time if the teen’s mother would cut her daughter’s hair, right then and there.

The girl’s mom agreed and took scissors to her ponytail, giving the teen a cut she wouldn’t receive from any hairstylist.

Regret

The mother later changed her mind, though, deciding that the consequence of her daughter’s having her hair cut was too much. (Thirty days in detention and hundreds of hours of community service didn’t seem to be a problem.) Apparently the mom has filed a complaint against the juvenile court judge.

Juvenile Judges Can Use Latitude

What do you think? Was the judge too harsh or did the punishment truly fit the crime? The Utah Code gives juvenile judges a great deal of latitude in deciding which punishments to hand out to kids, but that doesn’t mean juvenile judges are without fault or always make the best decisions. They are, after all, only human.

Make Sure You Know Your Rights

In this case the mom noted that she didn’t have an attorney and wasn’t aware of her legal rights. This is why you should always consult with a Utah juvenile defense attorney if your child becomes embroiled in any legal troubles. An attorney can help you and your child determine the best course of action and when to accept or decline recommendations from the court or law enforcement. Make the right move and contact a Utah juvenile defense attorney today.