a special court or department of a trial court which deals with under-age defendants
charged with crimes or who are neglected or out of the control of their parents.
The normal age of these defendants is under 18, but juvenile court does not have
jurisdiction in cases in which minors are charged as adults. The procedure in juvenile
court is not always adversarial (although the minor is entitled to legal representation
by a lawyer). It can be an attempt to involve parents or social workers and probation
officers in the process to achieve positive results and save the minor from involvement
in future crimes. However, serious crimes and repeated offenses can result in sentencing
juvenile offenders to prison, with transfer to state prison upon reaching adulthood
with limited maximum sentences. Where parental neglect or loss of control is a problem,
the juvenile court may seek out foster homes for the juvenile, treating the child
as a ward of the court.
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