What is the difference between a juvenile court and adult court?

In California, juvenile court is separate from adult court and handles cases for children and teens under the age of 18. Juvenile court is used when minors commit a crime and are charged with an offense. The primary purpose of juvenile court is rehabilitation and education, not punishment. In adult court, the primary focus is to punish criminal behavior. The punishment can include anything from fines and restitution to incarceration. The punishment is meant to serve as a deterrent and to keep the offender from committing the same crime again. In juvenile court, the offender is considered a "minor" and the system focuses on rehabilitation. The judge has broader authority than in adult court and can order a variety of measures, such as counseling, medical or mental health treatment, community service, or other rehabilitative services. The goal of juvenile court is to have the minor get back on the right track and ultimately avoid repeating the same offense. Both juvenile and adult courts have the same goal of protecting the public, but each court does so in its own way. Juvenile court focuses on rehabilitation and education to help the offender become a law-abiding citizen. Adult court focuses on punishment to keep the offender from committing the same crime.

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What is the difference between a juvenile court and adult court?

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