Question | Answer |
Latin for "parent of the country"; the doctrine that allows the government to take care of minors and others who cannot legally take care of themselves | parens patriae |
a minor who has committed an act that, if committed by an adult, would be a crime under federal, state, or local law; such offenders are usually processed through the juvenile justice system | delinquent offenders |
a minor who has committed an act that would not be a crime if committed by an adult, such as truancy from school, running away from home, or being habitually disobedient; they are considered beyond the control of their legal guardians | status offenders |
the failure of a parent or guardian to properly feed, clothe, shelter, educate, or tend to the medical needs of a child | neglected (abused) children or neglect |
statutes in which parents are held responsible and may be prosecuted for crimes committed by their children | parental responsibility laws |
the act, by an adult, of aiding or encouraging illegal or improper conduct by a minor | contributing to the delinquency of a minor |
to move a juvenile felony case to adult criminal court | transfer hearing (waiver hearing) |
the age (usually 18 or 21) at which a person becomes an adult, as specified by state law, and acquires both the rights and the responsibilities of adulthood | age of majority |
the informal process in which court officials or social workers decide if a complaint against a juvenile should be referred to juvenile court | intake |
a preliminary examination of the validity of a youth's arrest, during which the state must prove that an offense was committed and that there is reasonable cause to believe the accused youth committed it | initial hearing |
holding a person (such as a juvenile) against his or her will without bail until trial because of the likelihood that the individual will commit another crime | preventive detention |
the procedure used to determine the facts in a juvenile case; similar to an adult trial, but generally closed to the public | adjudicatory hearing |
the final sentence or result of a case | disposition |
the equivalent of parole in the juvenile justice system; a juvenile is supervised and assisted by a parole officer or social worker | aftercare |