Most cases that come through the juvenile court are classified as delinquency. Offenses against persons, property, drug laws, and public order are the most common.
The juvenile court also hears two other types of cases:
Juvenile dependency cases involve minors who have allegedly been neglected or abused by their parents or guardians. The court is tasked with deciding whether these children should be removed from the environment and placed in foster care.
Status offenses are violations that apply only to minors, such as truancy and running away from home.
When a juvenile offender commits a violent crime such as rape or murder, they may be ordered to be tried as an adult, meaning they must face the same criminal process as an adult who commits the same crime.