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Juvenile Rights
There are important distinctions between the process of trying a case in the juvenile court system as opposed to the adult court system. For example, a juvenile does not have the right to a jury trial in a juvenile court proceeding. However, a juvenile does have other important rights such as:
- Appointment of legal counsel
- Notice of the charges
- The right to a hearing
- The right to confront witnesses
- The right against self-incrimination
- Often, juvenile court proceedings are closed rather than public.
Focus on Rehabilitation
Juvenile court proceedings place emphasis on rehabilitation of the juvenile offender. Judges have wide discretion in fashioning a program of rehabilitation for a juvenile offender. Some states limit the punishment that may be given to a juvenile offender. For example, in some states, the period of incarceration imposed on a juvenile offender, even in the case of a very serious crime, may not extend past the juvenile’s 18th birthday. These limitations vary greatly from state to state.
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