{"id":352430,"date":"2023-12-14T11:08:00","date_gmt":"2023-12-14T16:08:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ability-fl-prod.internetbrands.com\/ability-law\/criminal\/juvenile-justice\/minor-crime-is-a-major-ordeal.html"},"modified":"2026-08-14T15:50:37","modified_gmt":"2026-08-14T20:50:37","slug":"minor-crime-is-a-major-ordeal","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/juvenile-justice\/minor-crime-is-a-major-ordeal.html","title":{"rendered":"How the Juvenile Justice System Works"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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How the Juvenile Justice System Works<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By Susan Buckner, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Laura Temme, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n

The juvenile justice system<\/span> deals with minors under the age of 18 who commit crimes. Unlike the adult criminal justice system<\/span>, its primary goal is to balance accountability with rehabilitation, focusing on correcting a young person<\/span>‘s behavior rather than solely on punishment. This system has its own courts, detention facilities, and legal procedures designed to address the unique circumstances of youthful offenders. rehabilitation.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Having your child involved in the juvenile justice system<\/span> can be frustrating and worrisome. Contact a local criminal law attorney<\/u><\/a>\u200b\u200b for help navigating this system and protecting your child’s rights.<\/p>\n

Who Is a Juvenile?<\/h2>\n

In the eyes of the law, a minor is any person under the legal adult age or “age of majority<\/a>.” In most states, the age of the majority is 18. The age at which the juvenile court<\/span> has jurisdiction over delinquency cases<\/span> (criminal cases involving youthful offenders) varies by\u00a0state law<\/span>.<\/p>\n

In most states, the offender’s age at the time of the offense determines jurisdiction. This allows for the sometimes lengthy periods needed to investigate a case. The upper age of jurisdiction<\/u><\/a>\u200b\u200b is 17, which is when juvenile court<\/span> loses jurisdiction. Once an offender turns 18, they\u2019ll face any new charges as an adult.<\/p>\n

Some jurisdictions, such as Wisconsin<\/u><\/a>, consider a\u00a0juvenile delinquent<\/span>\u00a0to be someone 16 or younger. Vermont is an exception, having raised the maximum age for a person to be tried in the juvenile justice system<\/span> to 18 in 2020.<\/p>\n

Juvenile jurisdictions often have lower age limits because very young children are considered less able to distinguish right from wrong, with most states specifying that juveniles lack mens rea<\/u><\/a>\u200b\u200b (criminal intent) before they reach six or seven years old. In North Carolina<\/u><\/a>, prosecutors can charge a child as young as eight, depending on the crime.<\/p>\n

Types of Juvenile Offenses<\/h2>\n

Juvenile offenses fall into two main categories: delinquent acts and status offenses<\/span>. Let\u2019s take a closer look at each one.<\/p>\n

Delinquent Acts<\/h3>\n

A delinquent act is an offense that would be a crime if committed by an adult, but not a minor. These range from misdemeanors to serious felonies like <\/u>homicide<\/u><\/a>\u200b\u200b or sexual assault<\/u><\/a>. The system prioritizes counseling and rehabilitation over punishment for these acts, especially for misdemeanor offenses.<\/p>\n

Status Offenses<\/span><\/h3>\n

Status crimes are acts that are illegal for minors but would be legal if committed by adults. Common examples of status offenses<\/span> under juvenile <\/span>court<\/span> jurisdiction<\/span> include:<\/p>\n