Juvenile Justice

Youth under the age of 18 who are accused of committing a delinquent or criminal act are typically processed through a juvenile justice system1. While similar to that of the adult criminal justice system in many ways—processes include arrest, detainment, petitions, hearings, adjudications, dispositions, placement, probation, and reentry—the juvenile justice process operates according to the premise that youth are fundamentally different from adults, both in terms of level of responsibility and potential for rehabilitation. The primary goals of the juvenile justice system, in addition to maintaining public safety, are skill development, habilitation, rehabilitation, addressing treatment needs, and successful reintegration of youth into the community.
Learn more about the juvenile justice process.
1States, however, have the right to set lower age thresholds for processing youth through the adult system. In addition, some states automatically process any individual, regardless of age, through the adult criminal justice system for some serious offenses.
Other Resources on this Topic
Agencies
Announcements
Collaboration Profiles
Conferences
Data Sources
Feature Articles
Programs
Publications
Resources
Technical Assistance
Tools & Guides
Videos & Podcasts
Webinars & Presentations
Websites
Youth Topics
Youth Voices
Did You Know?
Over the course of 6 months, approximately 10% of juvenile detainees thought about suicide, and 11% had attempted suicide.
DOWNLOAD: SUICIDAL THOUGHTS AND BEHAVIORS AMONG DETAINED YOUTH