juvenile law
Juvenile law is a system which allows law enforcement and authority to provide discipline or assistance to children or individuals under the legal adult age. There are many different reasons that juvenile law would need to step in and assist families or provide justice for minors. Below you will find an overview of juvenile law and information about the processes and systems used within juvenile law.
Generally, juvenile courts have authority over minors or children who are not yet considered adults. The age of adulthood is different depending upon where the child lives. For instance, in some states, a ‘juvenile’ is considered to be someone under the age of 16, while in other states a juvenile is considered to be someone under the age of 18. When an incident occurs and juvenile law steps in, the age will be determined by the laws in the state the incident occurs in.
Someone who is considered a juvenile and commits a crime may be required to appear before the juvenile court and receive consequences and behavioral help. Similarly, if a juvenile requires assistance from the courts, such as in the case of neglectful parents or abusive situations, the juvenile courts can step in and assist the child.