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 Arkansas, juvenile courts handle cases involving minors who are typically under the age of 18. These courts deal with a range of offenses including theft, drug offenses, assault, disorderly conduct, underage drinking, truancy, and curfew violations. Additionally, juvenile courts in Arkansas address dependency cases where the welfare of a minor is at risk due to abuse or neglect. While juvenile courts primarily focus on less severe offenses, more serious crimes like aggravated assault, rape, murder, and robbery can also be adjudicated in these courts depending on the circumstances and the discretion of the court. In Arkansas, proceedings in juvenile court are civil rather than criminal, meaning that minors are adjudicated as delinquent rather than being convicted of a crime. Juveniles in Arkansas do not have the right to a jury trial in juvenile court, and the system is designed to provide rehabilitation and a second chance, with an emphasis on the best interests of the child. The state statutes governing juvenile courts in Arkansas can be found in the Arkansas Juvenile Code of 1989, specifically Title 9 of the Arkansas Code.