What is the difference between juvenile court and adult court?

The difference between juvenile court and adult court in North Carolina is quite significant. Juvenile court is designed to handle cases involving minors who are charged with crimes. The focus of juvenile court is on rehabilitation rather than punishment. Judges in juvenile court have the discretion to impose lighter sentences than adult court judges and can also order probation, community service, or participation in a rehabilitation program. In contrast, adult court is designed to handle cases involving adults who have been charged with crimes. In adult court, the emphasis is on punishment and the sentences imposed on those found guilty are typically much harsher than those imposed in juvenile court. In addition, adult court judges are not allowed to order probation or require participation in a rehabilitation program as they can in juvenile court. While the outcomes of cases in juvenile court may be less harsh than those in adult court, the prosecution and defense in juvenile court proceedings are held to the same standards as those in adult court proceedings. This means that juveniles are afforded their rights to a fair and impartial trial and that evidence must still be presented for the court to render a lawful decision.

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