After the arrest of a minor for juvenile crimes in Georgia, he or she has the right to legal proceedings. When charged as a juvenile, these proceedings take place through the juvenile justice procedure. For minors, age and development play a significant role. If you’re a minor, restorative justice is the top priority of the legal system.
According to the Juvenile Justice Code, arrests and detentions are last resorts in the case of minor offenders. If sentenced to detention or imprisonment, the court seeks the shortest possible term. The courts do not seek to punish minors unfairly or to lock them up to throw away the key. Instead, the focus is generally on rehabilitation and resocialization. For adults, criminal liability and punishment normally take top priority. For minors, on the other hand, the law is more concerned with preventing crime.
If you have a conflict with the law, you can participate in the procedure. You can do this through legal representation or directly. Your best interests are always important to the court hearing. In some cases, you may have a conflict with your legal representative. If the legal representative does not act in your best interests, the courts will show a preference towards you. However, if the legal representative has your best interests in mind, the representation receives priority.
Perception and understanding play a massive role in terms of how much minors can participate in. If a minor has the appropriate development to remain involved in the case, he or she can participate at will.
This information offers a general idea of whether minors handle court proceedings. You should not consider it legal advice.