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

The difference between a juvenile court and a family court can be broken down into two parts: the difference in jurisdiction and the difference in proceedings. In Washington, juvenile courts are courts of limited jurisdiction, meaning they only have authority to hear cases related to minors who are under the age of 18 who have been charged with a crime. On the other hand, family courts have much broader jurisdiction, meaning they are able to hear cases related to domestic abuse, adoptions, divorces, and other issues related to family. In terms of proceedings, juvenile courts primarily focus on rehabilitating, rather than punishing, the minor who has been accused of a crime. This is why juvenile cases tend to move faster than adult cases, and minor offenders are generally not incarcerated, but rather given community service, counseling, or other forms of alternative punishment. In contrast, family courts are more likely to involve the whole family in the proceedings, and decisions made in family court are generally more focused on the children and what is considered to be in their best interests. Overall, the main difference between a juvenile court and a family court is the jurisdiction and the proceedings for each. Juvenile courts are courts of limited jurisdiction that primarily focus on rehabilitative justice, while family courts have broader jurisdiction and focus more on the wellbeing of the family as a whole.

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

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