Define: Juvenile Court

Juvenile court is a specialised legal system designed to handle cases involving minors who are accused of committing delinquent acts or offences. Unlike adult criminal courts, juvenile courts focus on rehabilitation and the best interests of the child rather than punishment. The proceedings in juvenile court are typically confidential and less formal than those in adult courts, and judges have more discretion in determining appropriate dispositions, such as counselling, probation, community service, or placement in a juvenile detention facility. The overarching goal of juvenile court is to address the underlying issues that may have contributed to the juvenile’s behaviour and to help them reintegrate into society as productive citizens.

A court dedicated to hearing cases involving people of less than 17 years of age. As far as possible, juvenile courts are kept entirely separate from adult courts, and their proceedings are not open to the public. Magistrates’ panels in the juvenile court must contain at least one man and one woman, and all must be below 65 years of age.

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This glossary post was last updated: 29th March, 2024.