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 Kansas, juvenile courts handle cases involving minors who are typically under the age of 18 and are accused of violating criminal statutes. These courts deal with a range of offenses from theft, drug-related crimes, assault, disorderly conduct, underage drinking, truancy, to curfew violations. Juvenile dependency cases, where the state intervenes due to child abuse or neglect, are also within the jurisdiction of these courts. However, for more serious offenses such as aggravated assault, rape, murder, and robbery, the juvenile may be prosecuted in adult court depending on the severity of the offense and the minor's age. In Kansas, the juvenile justice system emphasizes rehabilitation over punishment. Proceedings in juvenile court are civil, not criminal, meaning that juveniles are adjudicated for delinquent acts rather than criminal acts. While juveniles do not have all the same constitutional rights as adults—such as the right to a public jury trial—they are still afforded due process and other protections. Kansas juvenile courts and related authorities have discretion in handling cases, which can lead to alternative resolutions aimed at giving minors a second chance while focusing on their development and reintegration into society.