Child or Adult? Determining whether to try achild in the juvenile or the crimina

Child or Adult? Determining whether to try achild in the juvenile or the criminal justice system will have animpact on every step of his or her experience. Although the exactlaws and practices of the systems vary from state to state broadunderlying beliefs differentiate the two systems. While thejuvenile system is often thought to be more lenient in itspunishments there are often stricter regulations throughout theprocess. In the juvenile system a child may not have a right to ajury trial or bail. Juvenile records are not open to public accesslike criminal records and parole is very different between the twosystems. When the child in question is considered a child thecourts act as more of a parent attempting to punish but alsoprotect.