Juvenile probation plan
Juvenile shoplifting is s serious issue and a minor found guilty of shoplifting can face consequences including fines, juvenile hall, and probation or serve time in a prison facility for adults. Juvenile probation is a supervision period for minors that have pleaded guilty, or the court has found them guilty. The juvenile court orders the youth to complete the terms that the court has set for them such as community service or counselling within the period, which the juvenile judge determines (Strickland, 2004).
Standard conditions
A probation officer successfully effectively manages juvenile probation cases along with recovering all accessible information on the case and the minor. The officer then compiles information into a case plan. The plan represents an outline than the court expects the youth to follow to complete successfully what the court requires of him. Case planning begins with interviewing the juvenile and needs regular contact with school officials, counsellors and parents. The youth should complete the terms of probation, and the court requires them to pay for the cost linked with their case. If the court finds the youth guilty of shoplifting or damaging property, he/she may have to pay for compensation. The probation officer should make a payment plan and to the youth the means and moment of payment (Zastrow, 2008).
Punitive conditions
There are stipulations, which treat a first offender in a better manner than those who have prior convictions. A first time offender receives a pre-trial diversion where he/she enters into a contract of performing things such as taking anti-theft classes, community service, and when he/she finishes the contract and time has passed, the court dismisses the case. The period for such an offender does not exceed 6 months. A class c offence is often punishable with a fine of up to $500, and it has no jail term. This class is for goods below $50.00. A theft offence, which falls under class B, is punishable with up to 6 months in prison with a fine of up to $2,000. A class B offence prosecution takes place in county courts (Strickland, R. A. (2004).
Treatment conditions
The court gives the juvenile sentenced to probation instructions in form of a court order. The order explains in detail what the juvenile needs to do in order to have a successful probation. The court views the treatment of first time offenders as a fundamental part of reduction and crime management. In general, crime is not yet a habitual part of existence for these people. The court convicts various first time offenders mainly on minor offenses such as shoplifting. It is often the concern of the state and the court to ensure that a first time offender does not adopt the criminal lifestyle rather than making sure that the law punishes them to the maximum (Strickland, 2004).
Role of a probation officer
The court expects the probation officer to read orders in order for him/her to understand the youth’s responsibilities and the way to handle the case. The probation officer should go over the order of the court in the presence of the juvenile and his/her parents in order to ensure that everybody understands the orders (Zastrow, 2008).
A Juvenile probation officer is accountable for administering of probation cases. They should maintain accurate case notes, complete reports and file violations in case the minor breaks their probation rules (Zastrow, 2008).
They should arrange for regular meetings with the minor to make sure that they avoid problems and completes the jail terms. In case the court expects the youth to do community service, the officer should ensure that they complete their community service hours. It is essential for the officer to track the progress of the youth on a daily basis. This will assist the officer in informing the court whether the minor has finished his/her term and whether he/she has filed the probation violations as required (Zastrow, 2008).
References
Strickland, R. A. (2004). Restorative justice. New York: Peter Lang.
Zastrow, C. (2008). Introduction to social work and social welfare: Empowering people. Belmont, CA: Thomson/Brooks/Cole.
