In juvenile court, after a case has been proven or a plea has been taken, the case is resolved with a disposition. The juvenile court judge may order a range of programming, such as counseling, chemical dependency treatment, and other options as a part of the disposition. The disposition may also include restitution and consequences to prevent the young person from repeating the criminal behavior. Even when a young person is given a consequence, the goal is still to rehabilitate the child as well as protect public safety.
In juvenile court, the young person accused of violating the law is not called a defendant, but a respondent. Also, the respondent is not 'convicted' of a crime, but may be 'adjudicated delinquent.'
Common consequences and programming ordered in a juvenile case are:
- Probation supervision.
- Restitution.
- Community service.
- Counseling.
- House arrest.
- Chemical dependency treatment.
- Loss of driver’s license.
- Placement in a juvenile facility.
