This is a preview of how this page will look when printed.
Print  |  Close Window

Pacific Juvenile Defender Center

Pacific Juvenile Defender Center
Member Sign in   |   Become a Member  
   

“Many of the problems that plague the juvenile justice system—including appalling conditions in confinement, inappropriate transfer to adult court, over-representation of children of color, and inadequate health and educational services—could be remedied if every child accused of a crime was well represented by competent counsel...”

— American Bar Association, "America's Children at Risk," 1993 

Juvenile Justice System Basics

Print this Page

This section includes information for California and for Hawaii on the right to legal representation; how the juvenile justice system works; some of the characteristics of youth in the juvenile justice system; what can happen to youth who go through the juvenile system; and what can happen to youth who are tried as adults.  It has information on the critical importance of asserting the right to have an attorney present at every step of the process.