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

The main difference between the juvenile justice system and the adult justice system in Washington is that the juvenile justice system is focused more on rehabilitation than on punishment. In the adult justice system, the main purpose is to hold adult offenders accountable for their actions and to deter them from committing additional crimes. In contrast, the juvenile justice system focuses on developing strategies and programs to help juvenile offenders recognize and understand why they have committed the crime and provide them with resources to help them become productive members of society. In addition, the juvenile justice system is more forgiving in terms of punishments, since minors are not held to the same standard as adults. For example, a minor who commits a crime may face a community service sentence or a period of probation, while an adult offender may receive a longer prison sentence or hefty fines. Additionally, the juvenile justice system allows minors to have the option of attending a therapeutic or alternative school that can help them address their mental health issues or educational needs, while adults must attend a traditional school or an adult correctional facility. Finally, the juvenile justice system focuses more on protecting the juvenile’s rights. This means that in Washington, juveniles are provided legal representation and due process to ensure their rights are not violated. In comparison, adult offenders are mostly denied a fair trial and often receive sentences that are too harsh for their crimes. Overall, the main difference between the juvenile justice system and the adult justice system in Washington is that the juvenile justice system focuses more on rehabilitation rather than punishment.

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