What are the differences between the rights of juveniles and adults in the court system?

The court system in Tennessee treats juveniles differently than adults in a few key ways. One of the most important distinctions is that juveniles enjoy certain protections in criminal proceedings that are not available to adults. For instance, juvenile proceedings are usually closed to the public due to the belief that juveniles need a level of privacy and protection from the stigma that may follow them if the proceedings are made public. The same principle applies to records; juvenile records are kept confidential, while adult records are made public. Furthermore, juvenile cases are usually decided in a shorter amount of time than adult cases. This is because there is a greater emphasis on rehabilitation in the juvenile justice system; the court looks for ways to help the minor become a productive member of society, rather than simply punishing them with jail time. Additionally, the juvenile court system offers alternative punishments, such as community service, which are not available to adults in criminal proceedings. Finally, the rights of juveniles to a lawyer are more expansive than those of adults. All juveniles in custody have the right to an attorney and may have one appointed for them if they cannot afford one. Adults must either provide counsel for themselves or hire a lawyer. Due to these differences, juvenile proceedings in Tennessee differ dramatically from adult proceedings.

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What are the differences between the rights of juveniles and adults in the court system?

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