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 Missouri, the juvenile court system handles cases involving minors, typically those who are under the age of 17. 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 Missouri address dependency cases where the welfare of a minor is at risk due to abuse or neglect at home. While juvenile courts primarily focus on less severe offenses, serious crimes such as aggravated assault, rape, murder, and robbery committed by minors can be transferred to adult courts under certain circumstances. In Missouri's juvenile courts, proceedings are civil rather than criminal, meaning that minors are adjudicated for delinquent acts instead of being criminally charged. Juveniles in these courts do not have the same Constitutional rights as adults in criminal courts, for instance, they typically do not have the right to a jury trial. However, the juvenile justice system in Missouri emphasizes rehabilitation and offers various diversion and intervention programs aimed at providing minors with opportunities for reform and a second chance.