When youth under the age of 18 commit an offense, they may be placed in the juvenile delinquency system. This could mean being placed on some level of probation or going through the delinquency court process. Sometimes, in lieu of the delinquency court process, a judge may agree to transfer the youth to a juvenile collaborative justice court. In these cases, the youth must adhere to the rules of the collaborative court and receive treatment and court supervision instead of probation, detention, or placement.
Juvenile collaborative justice courts work similarly to adult collaborative courts. They apply collaborative justice principles to combine judicial supervision with intensive social and treatment services in lieu of detention, placement, and sometimes probation. These collaborative justice principles include a multidisciplinary, non-adversarial team approach with involvement from justice system representatives, treatment providers, and other support systems in the community.
Juvenile drug court programs provide the intensive judicial intervention and intensive community supervision of juveniles involved in substance abuse that is not generally available through the traditional juvenile court process.
Juvenile mental health courts are delinquency courts with a dedicated calendar for minors who have a mental health diagnosis. These courts focus on providing access to treatment, consistent and intensive supervision, and academic and family support.
Youth courts serve teenagers arrested on misdemeanor charges or a minor felony. Teens in youth courts act in traditional courtroom roles such as attorney, clerk and bailiff, as well as serve on the jury.