What is the difference between juvenile court and adult court?

In South Carolina, the juvenile court system is managed differently than adult court. Generally, juveniles who commit crimes are charged in juvenile court, unlike adults who are charged in adult court. Juvenile court focuses on rehabilitation rather than punishment, while adult court focuses on punishment based on the severity of the crime. In juvenile court, the charges are generally less serious and the maximum sentences are shorter than in adult court. Juveniles are typically not treated as criminals in the juvenile court system; instead, the court seeks to identify and address any underlying issues that may have led to the juvenile committing a crime. The objective of the juvenile court is to help the juvenile become a productive and responsible member of society. The proceedings in juvenile court are much different than adult court as they are usually not open to the public, and juveniles are typically not entitled to a jury trial. The judge for juvenile court is usually known as a “referee” or a “magistrate” and may have more flexibility in dealing with the juvenile’s case than an adult court judge. While juvenile court and adult court have many similarities, there are also many key differences. The primary difference is that juvenile court is focused on rehabilitation as opposed to punishment, while adult court focuses on punishment for the severity of the crime committed.

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What is the difference between juvenile court and adult court?

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