Definition of Juvenile Justice
Juvenile justice is the process of bringing minors to justice for their crimes. While laws and regulations regarding juvenile justice differ by state, there are many similarities.
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What Is a Juvenile?
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"Juvenile" is another word for "minor." In most states, anybody under the age of 18 is considered to be a juvenile.
Juvenile Delinquents
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A juvenile delinquent is someone under legal age who is found guilty of committing a crime. Depending on the offense and its severity, juvenile delinquents may not be sentenced as harshly as an adult would be for the same crime.
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Juvenile Court
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Juvenile Court is where minors go for trial in most cases. This may change, depending on the state and severity of the crime.
Responsibility
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Many states have laws declaring that minors lack the responsibility of adults and therefore cannot be tried as adults. However, this doesn't always apply, especially with more serious crimes. In those cases, a minor can be tried as an adult.
Legal Rights
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When it comes to court, juveniles have the same rights as adults. They include the rights to an attorney and a fair trial.
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References
- Photo Credit handcuffs image by Daniel Wiedemann from Fotolia.com
