Simple English definitions for legal terms
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A juvenile is a young person who is not old enough to be held fully responsible for a crime they may have committed. Instead of going to a regular court, they may go to a special court for juveniles. If a juvenile is found guilty of a crime, they are called a juvenile delinquent. The law has special protections for juveniles, such as not being detained for too long before seeing a judge and having the right to have their parents and a lawyer notified. However, if a juvenile commits a serious crime or keeps breaking the law, they may be tried as an adult.
In criminal law, a juvenile is a young person who is not yet old enough to be held fully responsible for a crime they are accused of committing. Instead of being tried in a traditional court, they may be seen in a special court called a juvenile court. If a young person is found guilty of a crime, they are called a juvenile delinquent.
At the federal level, a juvenile is someone who is under 18 years old. However, if they commit a serious crime or repeat offenses, they may be tried as an adult under criminal law. For example, if a 17-year-old commits murder, they may be tried as an adult.
The law provides special protections for juveniles. For example, a juvenile cannot be detained for longer than a reasonable period of time before seeing a magistrate judge. The arresting officer must also inform the juvenile of their legal rights and notify their parents and the attorney general.
In civil law, the terms "juvenile" and "minor" are often used to refer to a person who is not yet legally responsible for their actions.
These examples illustrate how a young person who is not yet legally responsible for their actions may be treated differently under the law. Juveniles are given special protections and may be tried in a different court system than adults.