How is the juvenile justice system different from the adult justice system?

The juvenile justice system in California is different from the adult justice system in several ways. First, the goal of the juvenile justice system is to promote rehabilitation. This differs from the adult justice system, which generally follows the "punishment" model. The juvenile justice system focuses on finding ways to return a juvenile offender to the community after providing whatever treatment is deemed necessary. In California, the juvenile justice system seeks to use alternatives to incarceration whenever possible, such as community service and counseling. Second, in the juvenile justice system, the proceedings are not held in open court, and the offenders are not referred to as defendants. Rather, juveniles are referred to as wards of the court and the proceedings are held in closed court. This helps to protect juveniles from the harsh publicity that comes with adult criminal proceedings. Third, while being tried in juvenile court could still lead to detention, sentences are generally more lenient than in adult court. Depending on the severity of the crime, juveniles may be held in detention centers or even juvenile camps instead of prisons when sentenced. Finally, minors who are charged as adults are not allowed in the juvenile justice system. Juveniles who are charged with serious or violent crimes may be charged by county prosecutors as adults, and their cases will be heard in the adult court. In summary, the juvenile justice system in California is quite different from the adult justice system. Its focus is on rehabilitation and reintegration, it operates in closed court, and it generally imposes lighter sentences than the adult court.

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How is the juvenile justice system different from the adult justice system?

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