Criminal Courts and Juvenile court is separated due to age. Depending on the state, there is a cutoff age that an adolescent’s case is brought to juvenile court. In some states, that age can be 15 in others it may be 17 (Bartol & Bartol, 2015). In some states, prosecutors, regardless the age of the child or adolescent, have the discretion to choose between juvenile court and criminal court.
The main difference between the criminal justice system and the juvenile justice system, is that the latter was created to protect children and rehabilitate them (Bartol & Bartol, 2015). Those children who committed criminal acts where seen as orphaned children who need the courts or state to become their guardian. Thus, juvenile courts where based on parens
The main difference between the criminal justice system and the juvenile justice system, is that the latter was created to protect children and rehabilitate them (Bartol & Bartol, 2015). Those children who committed criminal acts where seen as orphaned children who need the courts or state to become their guardian. Thus, juvenile courts where based on parens