123

Adjudication as a juvenile delinquent

Adjudication of a juvenile as a delinquent under the Act is not deemed a conviction of a crime, but rather a determination of status. United States v. Parker, 956 F. 2d 169, 171 (8th Cir. 1992); Brian N., 900 F. 2d at 220; United States v. Frasquillo-Zomosa, 626 F. 2d 99, 101-02 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 449 U.S. 987, 101 S. Ct. 405, 66 L. Ed. 2d 249 (1980); United States v. King, 482 F. 2d 454, 456 (6th Cir.), cert. denied, 414 U.S. 1076, 94 S. Ct. 594, 38 L. Ed. 2d 483 (1973). The manifest purpose of the Act is to aid in the rehabilitation of juveniles who have been determined to have engaged in crime. S. Rep. No. 93-1011, 93d Cong., 2d Sess., reprinted in 1974 U.S.C.C.A.N. at 5320. The purpose of the federal juvenile delinquency proceeding is to remove juveniles from the ordinary criminal process in order to avoid the stigma of a prior criminal conviction and to encourage treatment and rehabilitation. Brian N., 900 F. 2d at 220; In re Sealed Case (Juvenile Transfer), 893 F. 2d 363, 368 (D.C. Cir. 1990).