Differences Between Indiana’s Juvenile and Adult Courts

There are significant differences between juvenile and adult courts in Indiana. Because the focus of Indiana’s juvenile court system and juvenile offense laws is on rehabilitation – realizing that children are still developing and their future behavior can be affected by the consequences they face for their present misconduct – the entire system is more focused on that goal than on punishing the young offender for their actions. In fact, the juvenile justice system in Indiana is considered part of Indiana’s civil court system, not its criminal court system.   

That different focus is reflected in the way Indiana’s juvenile courts operate. Here are some of the differences between the way juvenile courts work and adult courts work: 

• No Crimes. Juveniles are charged with “delinquent acts,” not “crimes.” They are “adjudicated delinquent” instead of being “convicted.” And the consequence if they are found responsible for their acts is called a “disposition,” not a “sentence.”
• No Jury. Most juvenile cases are heard and decided by a judge. There is no jury present. 
• No Public. Most juvenile cases and case records are not available to the public. Adult criminal proceedings and case files generally are. 
• No Fixed Consequences. Where adult crimes typically come with a range of possible or sometimes mandatory sentences, dispositions in juvenile cases can vary widely depending on the situation.

Not All Juvenile Offenses are Adult Crimes

Some acts are offenses if committed by a juvenile, but not a crime if committed by an adult. Examples include skipping school (truancy), violating curfew, drinking or possessing alcohol, or running away from home. These are exclusively handled by juvenile courts, because generally speaking, they are not crimes if committed by an adult. 

Not All Juveniles Are Treated as Juveniles

Juveniles are considered to be people under the age of 18. There are certain serious crimes, however, that if committed by someone under the age of 18 will be filed in adult court, with the young person then being tried as an adult and subject to the same consequences as an adult if convicted. In other serious cases, the prosecutor may ask the judge to transfer the case to an adult criminal court. And there are also certain minor offenses, such as traffic offenses, that will be heard in the same court that handles adult traffic offenses. 

Razumich & Associates Defends Juveniles

At Razumich & Associates, our experienced criminal defense attorneys regularly protect the rights of younger clients who have been accused of a wide range of offenses. Even though Indiana’s juvenile justice system is supposed to be focused on rehabilitation, the consequences of being found responsible for committing a juvenile offense can still be significant. Our goal is always to protect our clients’ rights and to defend them against the allegations they are facing. 

We know how difficult it can be to have your child appear before a juvenile court judge, especially when the allegations against them are serious. At Razumich & Associates, we will fight for your child’s rights and will fiercely defend them against the charges they are facing. Call us today at 317-983-5333, or send us a message via our contact form so you can tell us about your child’s case, and we can explain how we will help.