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 Maryland, juvenile courts handle cases involving minors typically under the age of 18 who are accused of engaging in illegal behavior, which is classified as delinquent acts rather than crimes. These courts deal with a range of offenses from theft, drug-related offenses, assault, disorderly conduct, underage drinking, truancy, and curfew violations. Juvenile dependency matters, where the state intervenes in cases of child abuse or neglect, are also within the purview of juvenile courts. However, for more serious offenses such as aggravated assault, rape, murder, and robbery, a juvenile may be charged as an adult, depending on the circumstances and the severity of the offense. In juvenile proceedings, the focus is on rehabilitation rather than punishment, and the process is civil, not criminal. Consequently, juveniles do not have the right to a jury trial and other constitutional protections afforded to adults, but they do have the right to legal counsel. The juvenile justice system in Maryland emphasizes discretion and the potential for giving the minor a second chance, with various diversion and community programs available as alternatives to formal court proceedings.