Juvenile Law: A Glossary of Terms

Juvenile Law: A Glossary of Terms Related Information:

Anyone who has ever been involved with juvenile law knows that the terminology used can sometimes be confusing. It is necessary to know the meaning of some of the terms that are commonly used when dealing with juvenile delinquents.

Adjudication- the process where the youth appears in court, but there is no jury and the judge will not make a judgment. It is really an evaluation of the case.

Child Protection Act – This details how a social worker or a child protection officer would file papers in court regarding child abuse. This is a civil procedure rather than a criminal procedure.

Child Victims’ and Child Witness Rights - This allows the court to take any steps necessary to eliminate any emotional upheaval for a child required to testify in court.

CHINS (Child in need of supervision) – A term used for children who appear in court as juvenile offenders.

Custodial Confinement – a court order that a juvenile offender has to be placed in a secure facility for rehabilitation.

Delinquent – a teenager who is convicted of a crime considered criminal in adult court.

Disposition – the sentencing phase of a court case of a juvenile offender in which the judge must consider alternative sentences rather than send the youth to jail.

Diversion – an alternative to trial of a case where the youth is referred to counseling services.

Family Purpose Doctrine – a law that states the family is responsible for any injuries caused by an under aged youth driving a car.

Foster Care – temporary care paid for by the government when the youth has to be removed from hi/her family.

Intake – a process where anyone with any connection to the youth or a case is interviewed in order for the court to have all the necessary information.

Judgment – the ruling regarding how the youth is to be punished for a crime or how the situation has to be handled.

Parole – the release of a youth from confinement once the period of the sentence is up. It is often called “aftercare” where a parole officer monitors the youth’s activities.

Pleading – this refers to the youth entering a plea in a case. A “not guilty” plea will result in the case going to adjudication and a “guilty” plea will result in a waiver of a right to trial.

Preliminary Hearing – the youth is brought before the judge to enter a plea.

Preventative Detention – following a preliminary hearing the youth may need to be kept in custody until an adjudication hearing is held.

Probation – the period time after release that a youth has to be monitored to make sure that he/she is adjusting well to society and is not getting into any more trouble. This period usually lasts two years.

Referral – this is when the child is brought before a judge for alleged delinquent behavior and an investigation has to be initiated.

Restitution – a court order where the youth has to repay anything stolen or has to pay the defendant for any damages caused.

Status Offense – this is something that is considered illegal for a youth, but not for an adult. Examples include, being truant from school, breaking curfew, or habitually disobeying parents.

Termination Hearings – this is a process that severs the relationship between a parent and a child through legal means. It is almost always brought forth by child welfare officers where the parent has been found to be unfit and such a process is in the best interests of the child.

Waiver of Jurisdiction – the court determines that the youth can be tried for a crime in adult court.

These are not the only terms you will find in relation to juvenile law, as this branch of the legal systems covers everything that has to do with children in the court system.