This depends on the offense. Juvenile offenders may sometimes be required to appear before the court and attend the legal proceedings of their case. Juvenile cases in New Jersey are heard by a family law judge. However, if your child is being tried as an adult, their case will be heard in a criminal court. There are alternatives to having the case heard in a court. The case may be heard by an Intake Service Conference (ISC), a Juvenile Conference Committee (JCC) or by an informal referee for juvenile cases. An experienced juvenile crimes lawyer will advise you on the best path to take in your child’s case.