A juvenile court—also known as a young offender’s court—is a special court that handles criminal proceedings against minors—usually a child age 17 or younger, but in some states a child age 16 or younger, or age 15 or younger. Juveniles who are accused of violating a criminal statute against theft, drug use, drug possession, assault, disorderly conduct, underage drinking, truancy (skipping school), and curfew violations are often handled by juvenile courts. Juvenile dependency cases in which the state seeks to remove minors from a troubled home environment (when they are abused or neglected by their parents or guardians) are also handled by juvenile courts. But more violent offenses such as aggravated assault, rape, murder, and robbery are less likely to be prosecuted in juvenile court.

Cases in juvenile court are civil proceedings rather than criminal proceedings. This is significant because in juvenile court minors are charged with committing a delinquent act (a civil matter) rather than being charged with a criminal act. In juvenile court, juveniles do not have all of the Constitutional rights as an adult in criminal court does (such as the right to a jury trial), but police, prosecutors, and court officials have broad discretion in handling the case and giving the juvenile a second chance.

In Florida, juvenile courts handle cases involving minors, typically under the age of 18, who are accused of engaging in delinquent acts, which can range from theft and drug offenses to truancy and curfew violations. Juvenile dependency cases, where children may be removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect, are also within the jurisdiction of these courts. However, serious offenses such as aggravated assault, rape, murder, and robbery may be transferred to adult court depending on the circumstances and the discretion of the court. Proceedings in juvenile court are civil, not criminal, meaning that minors are adjudicated delinquent rather than convicted of crimes. Juveniles in Florida do not have the right to a jury trial in juvenile court, and the focus is often on rehabilitation rather than punishment. The system is designed to provide minors with a chance for correction and to avoid the harsher consequences of the adult criminal justice system.