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 Massachusetts, the Juvenile Court Department has jurisdiction over civil and criminal matters involving individuals under the age of 18. This includes delinquency, children in need of services (CHINS), care and protection petitions, and youthful offender cases. For most criminal offenses, the age of juvenile jurisdiction is under 18, but for murder charges, the age is under 14. Juvenile courts in Massachusetts handle cases involving theft, drug offenses, assault, disorderly conduct, underage drinking, truancy, curfew violations, and dependency cases where child welfare is concerned. However, serious offenses such as aggravated assault, rape, murder, and robbery may be tried in adult court if the juvenile is prosecuted as a 'youthful offender,' which applies to those between 14 and 18 years old who commit serious offenses. In juvenile proceedings, the focus is on rehabilitation rather than punishment, and the proceedings are civil, not criminal. Minors in Massachusetts do not have the right to a jury trial in juvenile court, but they do have other protections, such as the right to counsel. The system is designed to provide juveniles with guidance and support to prevent future offenses, emphasizing the welfare and best interests of the child.