Persons under the age of 18 may be charged
with criminal offenses that will be managed by the juvenile
court system. If it is alleged that a person committed a
serious crime a prosecuting attorney may ask the court to
try a minor in adult court. In those cases separate hearings
are held by the court to determine the proper forum.
Juvenile courts use a different approach
and language for minors. There is an overall goal to ensure
that the minor will not get into trouble in the future. The
court will be interested in the child’s grades, school
attendance, criminal history and familial support system. It
is helpful to present a positive case to the prosecutor and
to have family members get involved in creating a plan.
Minors do not plead guilty in juvenile
court. Rather, they are either adjudicated delinquent or
not. If adjudicated delinquent, a court will impose a sentence
and probation which can last throughout a child’s minority.
