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 South Dakota, juvenile courts handle cases involving minors typically under the age of 18 who are accused of delinquent acts, which would be considered crimes if committed by adults. These courts deal with a range of offenses from theft, drug offenses, assault, disorderly conduct, underage drinking, truancy, to curfew violations. Juvenile dependency cases, where the state intervenes in cases of abuse or neglect, are also within the jurisdiction of juvenile courts. However, for more serious offenses such as aggravated assault, rape, murder, and robbery, the juvenile may be tried in adult court depending on the severity of the offense and the minor's age. In South Dakota, proceedings in juvenile court are civil rather than criminal, meaning that juveniles are not charged with crimes but rather with delinquent acts. They do not have the right to a jury trial and other constitutional protections afforded to adults, but they do have the right to due process. The juvenile justice system in South Dakota emphasizes rehabilitation over punishment, with a focus on providing minors with opportunities for treatment, education, and reintegration into society.