Generally, the juvenile code is the Juvenile Court Code of Georgia State. This code is codified within Chapter 11 with Title 15 of Georgia’s official Code. It is observable that this code institutes different courts for hearing cases relating to children. Notably, these courts deal elementarily with deprivation, delinquency as well as status criminal cases (O’Donnell & Gross, 2012). The case study provides for the 14-year-old child who is alleged to have killed the 60-year-old female tourist provides critical insight for its relation to the Georgia state juvenile codes. The first instance is that the child is below 18 and 17 years and is alleged to have committed a capital offense of murder (Walls, 2012). From this instance, several issues arise as to whether the child has the competency to face a full trial within the elder persons’ criminal court. As noted, a competency test will be required to assess whether the young suspect is worthy to be answerable to the attorney in the normal state’s criminal court. The role of a forensic psychologist has to take into shape in this court case.
Regarding the deplorable living conditions that might be eminent at the child’s pace of birth or family, deprivation is applicable as a way of enhancing the child’s freedom (Walls, 2012). The child might probably be served under the delinquency code. Delinquency cases relate to the children below 17 years of age accused of crime commission if it were the case of an adult. However, another applicable subsection that might help close the case is that not all the crimes relating to children remain admissible in the juvenile courts (Arrigo & Shipley, 2005). Georgia state juvenile codes may require that severe crimes committed by children over 13 years of age should be handled within the superior court. This is unless otherwise recalled by the district attorney or higher court judge. Consequently, it states that other cases that originate in the juvenile courts may have an element of transferability to the higher courts. The best option is the admission of the competency test on the child to ascertain his capability to be answerable within the high or juvenile courts in Georgia State.
References
Arrigo, B. & Shipley, S. (2005). Introduction to forensic psychology: Issues and controversies in crime and justice. Amsterdam: Elsevier.
O’Donnell, P. & Gross, B. (2012). Developmental Incompetence to Stand Trial in Juvenile Courts. Journal of Forensic Sciences, vol. 10: 11-16.
Walls, J. (2012). New Georgia Juvenile Code Advancing in State Legislature. Web.