Utah Juvenile System Differs from Adult Criminal System

The Utah Juvenile Court system is designed to rehabilitate a young offender rather than simply punish.  Certainly, making the victim whole through restitution and protecting the community are also goals of the juvenile system, but the primary focus is rehabilitation.

The Utah Juvenile Court system is more informal than the adult system and the court often receives input from parents, teachers or probation officers on what actions to take.  The Juvenile system is technically a civil forum in which a person may admit or deny conduct and not plead guilty or not guilty.  A juvenile does not have a right to a jury trial, and consequently all of the power and authority rests with the Juvenile Court  Judge.

The Juvenile Courts handle delinquent acts that would be criminal acts if those acts were committed by an adult.  Because someone under 18 is still growing, developing and maturing the Juvenile Court wants to set offenders back on the right path and often acts as a stern parent.  Nevertheless, for a minor ordered to the juvenile detention center or a residential half-way house the Juvenile Judges orders may seem punitive.