What is the difference between juvenile justice and the adult justice system?

The juvenile justice system and the adult justice system are two separate systems with distinct qualifications and processes. In Tennessee, the juvenile justice system is designed to address the unique needs of children who have been accused of a crime. Unlike the adult system, the juvenile justice system is more focused on rehabilitation and helping the youth get back on the right path. The differences between the two systems can be broken down into several categories. First, the age limits are different. In Tennessee, the juvenile justice system applies to children between the ages of eight and seventeen. If a person is eighteen or older, he or she is subject to the adult justice system. Second, the punishments for juveniles are usually much less severe than for adults. For example, juveniles can be sentenced to a juvenile detention center, whereas adults may be sentenced to a prison. Additionally, juveniles cannot be put to death, whereas the death penalty is legal for certain crimes under the adult system. Third, the juvenile justice system operates under a different burden of proof than the adult system. In the juvenile justice system, the burden of proof is “preponderance of the evidence,” which requires a much lower standard of proof than the “beyond a reasonable doubt” standard of proof required in the adult system. Finally, the juvenile justice system often uses a different set of legal procedures than the adult system. A juvenile court may opt to have a hearing with an attorney and a judge instead of a trial by jury, for instance. Overall, the juvenile justice system is designed to take into account the unique circumstances of children and young adults. It offers a more lenient form of punishment and more rehabilitative options than the adult system, and exists as an attempt to help children get back on the right path.

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What is the difference between juvenile justice and the adult justice system?

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