What is a juvenile court hearing?

A juvenile court hearing is a type of court hearing that involves children, typically under the age of 18, who have been accused of committing a crime. In Florida, juvenile court hearings are held in the county’s juvenile court. In a juvenile court hearing, the child who is accused of a crime is called the “respondent” or the “defendant.” The person or agency initiating the hearing is called the “petitioner.” At a juvenile court hearing, a judge will hear all of the evidence related to the case in order to decide what consequences or measures should be taken. The judge can issue warnings, order counseling, or assign community service in order to help discourage future criminal behavior. In more serious cases, they may also decide to place the juvenile in custody in a juvenile facility or an adult jail. The goal of juvenile court hearings in Florida is to provide an alternative to the traditional criminal justice system. The court system wants to help young people who have strayed from the law in a way that both protects the community and helps the juvenile grow and learn from their mistakes. A juvenile court hearing gives the judge the ability to tailor a sentence that will meet the needs of the respondent and their community.

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