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 Georgia, the juvenile court system handles cases involving minors who are typically under the age of 17, as this is the age of majority for criminal responsibility in the state. These courts deal with a range of offenses committed by juveniles, including theft, drug offenses, assault, disorderly conduct, underage drinking, truancy, and curfew violations. Additionally, juvenile courts in Georgia address dependency cases where the welfare of a minor is at stake due to abuse or neglect. While juvenile courts primarily focus on less severe offenses, more serious crimes such as aggravated assault, rape, murder, and robbery can also be adjudicated in these courts, especially if the prosecutor decides to try the juvenile as an adult for particularly egregious offenses. Proceedings in juvenile courts are civil rather than criminal, meaning that minors are adjudicated for delinquent acts instead of criminal acts. Juveniles in Georgia do not have the right to a jury trial in juvenile court, and the system emphasizes rehabilitation over punishment, often allowing for alternative resolutions aimed at giving the juvenile a second chance. However, certain constitutional protections, such as the right to counsel, still apply.