juvenile court

a law court having jurisdiction over youths, generally of less than 18 years.

[1895-1900, Amer.]

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Special court handling problems of delinquent, neglected, or abused children.

Two types of cases are processed by a juvenile court: civil matters, often concerning care of an abandoned or impoverished child, and criminal matters, arising from antisocial behaviour by the child. Most statutes provide that all persons under a given age (often 18 years) must first be processed by the juvenile court, which can then, at its discretion, assign the case to an ordinary court. Before the creation of the first juvenile court, in Chicago in 1899, and the subsequent creation of other such courts in the United States and other countries (e.g., Canada in 1908; England in 1908; France in 1912; Russia in 1918; Poland in 1919; Japan in 1922; and Germany in 1923), juveniles were tried in the same courts as adults.

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▪ law

also called  Children's Court,  

      special court handling problems of delinquent, neglected, or abused children. The juvenile court fulfills the government's role as substitute parent, and, where no juvenile court exists, other courts must assume the function.

      Two types of cases are processed by a juvenile court: civil matters, usually concerning care of an abandoned child or one whose parents cannot support him; and criminal matters arising from antisocial behaviour by the child.

      Most statutes provide that all persons under a given age (18 years in many places) must be processed initially by the juvenile court, which can then, at its discretion, assign the case to an ordinary court.

      The idea behind the juvenile court system is that children should be treated with special care. Its originators considered it futile and unjust to punish a child for wrongdoing, preferring rehabilitation instead. To accomplish this, the court operates informally and paternally.

      The first juvenile court was established in 1889 in Chicago, and the movement spread rapidly throughout the world. They are now found in Europe, Latin America, Israel, Iraq, Japan, and other countries, although there is variation in structure and procedures.

      There has been much disagreement, especially in the United States, over whether the juvenile court's informality helps or hurts children. Some argue that, with crowded court calendars and incompetent judges, the court's purpose is thwarted and that the child is stripped of the rights of criminal defendants with no corresponding relaxation in severity of treatment. In response to this, courts in the United States have extended to juveniles such rights as the right to cross-examine witnesses, the right to fair notice of hearings, the privilege against self-incrimination, and the right to legal counsel.

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