Juvenile court handles cases involving minors accused of crimes or child protection issues. Delinquency matters can include non-criminal acts, and minors can be referred by parents or school officials. Cases are often handled differently than adult court, with judges considering various factors. In some cases, minors may be tried in adult court for serious crimes.
Juvenile court is a court that handles cases involving individuals who are not of the legal age of adulthood. This court handles delinquency cases, which are those in which a minor is accused of some type of crime. The Juvenile Court also deals with child protection issues, also referred to as dependency cases.
In juvenile court, delinquency matters can involve a wide range of violations of the law, including those that are not considered criminal acts when performed by adults. For example, a minor may end up in court after being stopped by the police for shoplifting or assault and battery. However, he may also be referred to juvenile court if he is absent or runs away from home. Minors can even face prosecution after violating curfews or repeatedly disobeying their parents. Juvenile court is a likely destination for a child who is considered continually provocative and out of control.
In most cases, a person’s family members cannot refer them to court, at least if they are an adult. However, a minor can end up in court after his parents report him. Some school officials may also refer minors to court. Like adults, however, even a minor can end up in court after being accused or caught red-handed.
In addition to the fact that a minor may end up in court for things that are not crimes in adulthood, a minor’s case is also often handled differently. For example, adults are typically arrested for their crimes. A minor, on the other hand, can simply be taken into custody and then questioned. If your child has to appear in juvenile court, your case is usually heard by a judge. Most places don’t offer jury trials of minors, at least for most crimes.
A juvenile court may consider many factors in deciding the course of justice. A court may consider the circumstances surrounding the act and whether or not the minor has a prior history of delinquency. A judge may also consider school records and even medical history when deciding how to handle a minor’s case.
There are some cases where a minor can end up in adult court instead of juvenile court. For example, if a minor is accused of committing murder, some jurisdictions allow that minor to be tried in adult court. Usually, this is reserved for minors who are at least in their teens and have committed serious acts intentionally.
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