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 New York, the Family Court has jurisdiction over cases involving individuals under the age of 18 who are accused of committing acts that would constitute a crime if committed by an adult. These acts are referred to as 'delinquent acts' rather than crimes. The purpose of the juvenile court system in New York is to provide a process that seeks rehabilitation rather than punishment, focusing on the best interests of the minor. Juvenile delinquency cases cover a range of offenses, from theft and drug offenses to disorderly conduct and truancy. However, for more serious offenses such as murder, rape, and other violent crimes, the case may be moved to a criminal court, and the juvenile may be tried as an adult, depending on the circumstances and the age of the offender. In juvenile proceedings, minors do not have the right to a jury trial, but they do have other constitutional protections, such as the right to an attorney and the right against self-incrimination. The proceedings are civil, and the outcomes may include various forms of supervision, treatment, and programs aimed at rehabilitation.