Frequently Asked Questions about Juvenile Justice System Structure & Process

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), Serving Children, Families, and Communities

Related FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) provide the latest answers to commonly asked questions about Juvenile Justice System Structure and Process. Here you will find information on how states define a “juvenile” and on state provisions for trying certain juveniles as adults in criminal court.

Statutes

What is a "juvenile"? [Answer]
Do juvenile courts lose jurisdiction over juvenile offenders when they turn 18? [Answer]
Are transfer (waiver) laws the only laws that enable states to impose adult sanctions on juvenile offenders? [Answer]
How do judicial waiver criteria vary by state? [Answer]
How do concurrent jurisdiction (prosecutorial discretion) provisions vary by state? [Answer]
How do statutory exclusion provisions vary by state? [Answer]
How do juvenile court blended sentencing provisions vary by state? [Answer]
What is the youngest age that a juvenile can be transferred to criminal court for trial as an adult? [Answer]
Have states made it easier for juveniles to be tried as adults in criminal court? [Answer]