We have recently written articles about Juvenile court in Ohio and how it differs from adult court in various specific ways. We wrote about how penalties can be different, and the differences in the expungement processes between the two systems. There are other differences to discuss, including some different terminology in juvenile court.
In the a recent article, we mentioned how juvenile cases are technically civil cases, which carries different implications for offenders who are determined to be guilty. Since juvenile cases are not criminal cases, the juvenile courts name certain concepts differently from their adult court counterparts. However, the process for trying juvenile offenders mirrors the process in adult criminal court in many ways. Since the courtroom proceedings look so similar, defendants in juvenile court may expect to hear the same language they associate with court. For example, terms like “guilty plea,” or “criminal conviction” may come to mind. For both of those examples, juvenile court has slightly different terms for similar concepts.
Table for Some Terminology in Juvenile Court
Here are some familiar legal terms that are used often in criminal court and their juvenile court counterparts:
Adult Court Term
Criminal Conviction
Criminal
Guilty Plea
Not Guilty Plea
Sentence
Juvenile Court Term
Adjudication of Delinquency
Delinquent Child
Plea of Admission
Plea of Denial
Disposition
Conclusion
We know any one with a court date may have a lot of questions. Juveniles in particular may not have anticipated having a court date, and the terms used in juvenile court can cause even more confusion. If you have questions about terminology in juvenile court, or any questions about a juvenile or adult case, the expert attorneys at Dearie, Fischer & Martinson are always here to help. With offices in Warren and Montgomery county, we have been helping juveniles and adults for over 20 years. Feel free to contact us today!
