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 Missouri, the juvenile court system handles cases involving minors, typically those who are under the age of 17, who are accused of engaging in illegal conduct. The juvenile justice system in Missouri is designed to focus on rehabilitation rather than punishment, reflecting the belief that juveniles are more capable of change than adults. Juvenile courts in Missouri deal with a range of offenses, from theft and drug-related activities to truancy and curfew violations. However, for more serious and violent crimes, such as aggravated assault, rape, murder, and robbery, the court may certify juveniles to stand trial as adults, depending on the severity of the offense and the minor's age and past record. In juvenile proceedings, the terminology differs from adult criminal court; for instance, juveniles are found 'delinquent' rather than 'guilty.' While juveniles do not have the right to a public jury trial, they do retain other constitutional rights, such as the right to an attorney and the right to confront witnesses. The juvenile court system in Missouri also handles dependency cases, where the welfare of the child is at issue due to abuse, neglect, or other family problems, and the state may intervene to protect the child.