What is the juvenile system? Are juvenile laws different from adult laws?

The juvenile system is a criminal justice system designed for individuals under the age of 18 who are charged with crimes. A main difference in the way juvenile cases are handled is that they are supposed to be dealt with from the perspective of asking what is in the best interests of the child. There are separate courtrooms (and in some jurisdictions separate courthouses) for juvenile cases, and by law juveniles are not allowed to be held in the same facilities with adults, or must be held separately. The juvenile system has all the same rights of the accused as the adult system, meaning that an individual is presumed innocent, and cannot be found guilty unless they are found so beyond a reasonable doubt. Unlike the adult system, if a juvenile wants to go to trial they would not be entitled to a jury of their peers; in the juvenile system the judge would act as the trier of fact, and would listen to the facts and decide whether the charges against the juvenile were proven beyond a reasonable doubt or not. All the rules of evidence used at trial and in any pretrial hearings are the same for the juvenile system.

Punishment or sentencing in the juvenile system is different from the adult system, with the focus usually on getting the juvenile help, through juvenile probation or sending the juvenile to programs that vary in intensity depending on the nature and seriousness of the offense and the juvenile’s record.

Is your child being charged with a crime in Orlando? Call Juvenile Defense Attorney David Hill at 407-648-0006 Today!

Our experienced juvenile defense attorney has been handling juvenile matters for over twenty years, and would be happy to discuss your child or loved ones’ case. You can also email us at info@orlandocriminaldefenselawyer.com or fill out our online form and we will contact you shortly. Experience specific to juvenile court matters, and we have that experience. Let us fight for your child's rights in juvenile court.