What is the difference between adjudication and conviction in juvenile court?

Adjudication and conviction are terms used to describe outcomes in juvenile court. Juvenile court proceedings are different than adult criminal proceedings, so the terms mean different things. When a juvenile is charged with a crime, their case will go to juvenile court. The court will decide whether the juvenile is guilty, or “adjudicated delinquent”. This means the court has determined the juvenile is responsible for the crime they are accused of committing. Conviction is a term used in adult criminal proceedings. It means the court has found the defendant guilty of the crime charged. This term does not apply to juvenile court proceedings. In Washington, when a juvenile is found to be responsible for a crime, the court can impose sanctions on the juvenile such as counseling, community service, probation, or placement in a juvenile detention facility. The court may also impose fines or other legal requirements. The determination of these sanctions is done at an adjudicatory hearing and is not considered a conviction. Overall, the difference between adjudication and conviction in juvenile court is that adjudication is a finding of juvenile delinquency while conviction is a finding of guilt in adult criminal court. Adjudication of delinquency is not a criminal conviction and the juvenile has no criminal record as a result.

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What is the difference between adjudication and conviction in juvenile court?

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