Juvenile Justice Study Notes
1. Juveniles Justice Age
a. Criminal offenses committed by minors under the age of 18 are
typically referred to in the juvenile delinquency court system.
(Which is distinct from the adult criminal justice system.
b. While the juvenile justice system has a stronger focus on
rehabilitation as opposed to punishment when compared to the
adult criminal justice system.
c. Certain offenses can carry extremely significant consequences
for minors under the age of 18.
d. Specifically, violent crimes committed by juveniles are treated
very seriously by the court and can carry serious and long-lasting
consequences.
2. Difference Between Adult Court and Juvenile Court
a. There are significant differences between juvenile court and the
adult criminal justice system.
b. The juvenile justice system is rehabilitative in nature and
probation terms usually include a heavy focus on counseling,
education, drug or alcohol treatment and other similar programs.
c. There are certain criminal offenses that are deemed too serious
for juvenile court and may be sent to adult court.
d. Many of the criminal offenses sent to adult court involve violent
crimes such as robbery, assault with force likely to produce great
bodily injury and assault with a firearm.
3. Offenses tried in Adult Court
a. Minors over the age of 14 accused of the most serious crimes will
have their case automatically filed in an adult court. (These
crimes include murder and certain sex offenses.
b. These offenses include but not limited to murder, certain arson
offenses, robbery, rape, kidnapping, attempted murder, assault
with a firearm, assault with force likely to produce great bodily
injury, discharge of a firearm, offenses in which the victim in over
65 or disabled, carjacking, and various other crimes.
c. The district attorney can either directly file the case in adult
court or can file a petition in juvenile court and have a “Fitness
Hearing” where a judge would determine whether the minor is a
good fit for the juvenile justice system.
d. A prosecutor can "direct file” in adult court when the allegations
against a minor over the age of 16 involve a serious offense or
1. Juveniles Justice Age
a. Criminal offenses committed by minors under the age of 18 are
typically referred to in the juvenile delinquency court system.
(Which is distinct from the adult criminal justice system.
b. While the juvenile justice system has a stronger focus on
rehabilitation as opposed to punishment when compared to the
adult criminal justice system.
c. Certain offenses can carry extremely significant consequences
for minors under the age of 18.
d. Specifically, violent crimes committed by juveniles are treated
very seriously by the court and can carry serious and long-lasting
consequences.
2. Difference Between Adult Court and Juvenile Court
a. There are significant differences between juvenile court and the
adult criminal justice system.
b. The juvenile justice system is rehabilitative in nature and
probation terms usually include a heavy focus on counseling,
education, drug or alcohol treatment and other similar programs.
c. There are certain criminal offenses that are deemed too serious
for juvenile court and may be sent to adult court.
d. Many of the criminal offenses sent to adult court involve violent
crimes such as robbery, assault with force likely to produce great
bodily injury and assault with a firearm.
3. Offenses tried in Adult Court
a. Minors over the age of 14 accused of the most serious crimes will
have their case automatically filed in an adult court. (These
crimes include murder and certain sex offenses.
b. These offenses include but not limited to murder, certain arson
offenses, robbery, rape, kidnapping, attempted murder, assault
with a firearm, assault with force likely to produce great bodily
injury, discharge of a firearm, offenses in which the victim in over
65 or disabled, carjacking, and various other crimes.
c. The district attorney can either directly file the case in adult
court or can file a petition in juvenile court and have a “Fitness
Hearing” where a judge would determine whether the minor is a
good fit for the juvenile justice system.
d. A prosecutor can "direct file” in adult court when the allegations
against a minor over the age of 16 involve a serious offense or
