What is the difference between a juvenile delinquency hearing and an adult criminal trial?

The primary difference between a juvenile delinquency hearing and an adult criminal trial in California is the age of the defendant. A juvenile delinquency hearing is when a minor under the age of 18 is charged with a criminal offense. In contrast, an adult criminal trial is when an adult over the age of 18 is charged with a criminal offense. The main goal of juvenile delinquency hearings is to rehabilitate the minor instead of punishing them, which is the primary aim in an adult criminal trial. As a result, the proceedings of a juvenile delinquency hearing may differ greatly from those of an adult criminal trial. The court in a juvenile delinquency hearing may order the minor to complete a program or treatment, or to stay away from certain locations or people instead of imposing fines or jail time. In addition, juvenile delinquency hearings are not open to the public, whereas adult criminal trials are. This is because juvenile delinquency hearings are designed to be more informal and help protect the privacy of the minor. Lastly, the outcome of a juvenile delinquency hearing will depend on the minor’s age and the gravity of the offense they are accused of. For more serious offenses, the judge may order a transfer to an adult criminal court. However, in most instances, minors will remain in juvenile court.

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What is the difference between a juvenile delinquency hearing and an adult criminal trial?

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