Source: http://njdc.info/practice-policy-resources/state-profiles/americansamoa/
Timestamp: 2018-05-26 02:26:04
Document Index: 363429626

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 45', '§ 45', '§ 45', '§ 45', '§ 45', '§ 45', '§ 45', '§ 45', '§ 45', '§ 45', '§ 45', '§ 45', '§ 45', '§ 45', '§ 45', '§ 45', '§ 45', '§ 45']

American Samoa | NJDC
American Samoa has a public defender office, which can represent indigent youth in delinquency proceedings. American Samoa has no statutorily required or recommended training requirements or standards for attorneys representing youth in delinquency proceedings. American Samoa youth have a right to a trial by jury at adjudication if charged with committing an act that would be a felony if committed by an adult. The right is considered waived if not requested. Am. Samoa Code Ann. § 45.0123.
In addition to statutes and case law, juvenile court proceedings are governed by court rules. American Samoa does not have specific juvenile court rules, but rules for other proceedings (such as the Rules of Criminal Procedure) may apply in juvenile court. In addition, local courts may have rules that apply to juvenile courts in that jurisdiction.
Beyond the right to counsel in juvenile court guaranteed by the Due Process Clause of the United States Constitution and In re Gault, 387 U.S. 1 (1967), states often have a state constitution or statutory provisions further expanding upon or delineating that right.
In American Samoa, youth in juvenile court have the right to counsel at every stage of proceedings alleging a child is delinquent or in need of supervision. Am. Samoa Code Ann. § 45.0120(a). Notice of the right to counsel is provided in a summons for a hearing on a petition. Am. Samoa Code Ann. § 45.0311.
“The Court may appoint counsel without a request if it considers representation by counsel necessary to protect the interests of the child or of other parties.” Am. Samoa Code Ann. § 45.0120(c). Furthermore, “[i]f the child and his parents, guardian, or other legal custodian were not represented by counsel at his first appearance, the court shall inform them at the conclusion of the proceedings that they have the right to file a motion for a new trial and that if the motion is denied, they have the right to appeal.” Am. Samoa Code Ann. § 45.0121.
Violation of probation hearings, Am. Samoa Code Ann. § 45.0363(c)(2).
Transfer/certification hearings, Am. Samoa Code Ann. § 45.0341(a).
American Samoa has no presumption of indigence in juvenile court proceedings. “If the child or his parents, guardian, or other legal custodian requests an attorney and is found to be without sufficient financial means, counsel shall be appointed by the Court.” Am. Samoa Code Ann. § 45.0120(b).
There are no statutes specifically addressing a child’s waiver of counsel.
When and how the court may decide to detain a child or otherwise place restrictions on the child’s freedom is defined by statute and court rules. In American Samoa, a detention hearing must occur within 48 hours of the child being detained, excluding weekends and court holidays, unless waived in writing by the child’s attorney, parent, guardian, or an adult person with whom the child has been residing. Am. Samoa Code Ann. § 45.0210(b). Provisions for the detention of youth are found in Am. Samoa Code Ann. §§ 45.0201-45.0210 and 45.1004.
The U.S. Constitution and Supreme Court case law are also sources of due process rights beyond local and state statutes and provisions. NJDC’s Detention Page provides more information about detaining youth
The legal needs of children in the delinquency system rarely end at disposition, and states vary in the way they provide a right to representation on these post-disposition issues. American Samoa statutes list one post-disposition proceeding at which youth have a right to counsel.
In American Samoa, youth have a right to counsel in the following post-disposition proceeding:
Violation of probation hearing, Am. Samoa Code Ann. § 45.0363(c)(2).
The age of a child who comes within the jurisdiction of the state’s juvenile courts is defined by state law. In American Samoa:
The youngest age at which a child can be adjudicated delinquent is 10. Am. Samoa Code Ann. § 45.0103(9)(A);
Juvenile court has jurisdiction over offenses alleged to have been committed prior to a child’s 18th birthday; after age 18, the youth is charged in adult court, Am. Samoa Code Ann. § 45.0103(2);
Juvenile court can “may commit a person 18 years of age or older to the Bureau if he is adjudicated delinquent for an act committed prior to his 18th birthday or upon revocation of probation.” Am. Samoa Code Ann. § 45.0350(2).
Despite the existence of juvenile courts, many youth are still tried as adults. American Samoa has three ways that youth can be prosecuted as adults:
Discretionary Transfer: “When a petition filed in court alleges a child 14 years of age or older to be a delinquent child . . . having committed an act which would constitute a felony if committed by an adult and if, after investigation and a hearing, the Court finds it would be contrary to the best interests of the child or of the public to prosecute the child as a juvenile, it may enter an order certifying the child to be held for criminal proceedings as an adult… A child may be charged with the commission of a felony only after the hearing…or when the child is: (A) alleged to have committed a crime of violence and is 14 years of age or older; (B) alleged to have committed a crime punishable by a maximum punishment of life imprisonment or death, and is 16 years of age or older, and the child has been adjudicated a delinquent child within the previous two years and the act for which the child was adjudicated a delinquent would have constituted a felony if committed by an adult; or (C) alleged to have committed any felony subsequent to any other felony which was the subject of a hearing in which the child was certified for criminal proceedings as an adult.” Am. Samoa Code Ann. § 45.0115(c). Hearing can be held on prosecutor’s request. Am. Samoa Code Ann. § 45.0333(2).
Statutory Exclusion: the following are not considered delinquent children for the purposes of juvenile court jurisdiction: “children 14 years of age or older who allegedly commit crimes of violence” or “children who within the previous 2 years have been adjudicated a delinquent child, and the act for which the child was adjudicated a delinquent would have been a felony if committed by an adult or punishable by a maximum punishment of life imprisonment or death.” Am. Samoa Code Ann. § 45.0103(9)(B)(I-II).
Once an Adult, Always an Adult: “children 14 years of age or older who allegedly commit any felony subsequent to any other felony which was the subject of a hearing in which the child was certified for criminal proceedings as an adult” will be prosecuted in adult court. Am. Samoa Code Ann. § 45.0103(9)(B)(III).
NJDC has not yet conducted an assessment of the juvenile indigent defense system in American Samoa. If you would like to collaborate with NJDC to fundraise for, plan, or engage in an assessment in this jurisdiction, please contact us.
Current through June 2017.