kawisixer01
Regular Member
Trying to verify that statement, I found an note in/about another state calling a misdemeanor a "mister minor[sic]."
I dunno we only spent about a week and about four assignments on that one subject alone in my juvenile law class a few years ago when I was in the criminal justice program at Blackhawk tech. I'm probably wrong though. :/
Juveniles are charged with Delinquent acts, which may or may not be considered felonies had an adult committed them. In 1995 WI law was changed, it reduced the age that someone could be charged with a felony from 18 to 17, and made it legal for someone as young as 14 to be judicially waivered to adult court in order to be prosecuted with a felony. Realistically a juvenile can't technically be found guilty of a "crime", only delinquent.
When a juvenile commits a crime, he is charged by a probation officer or a prosecutor in a "civil" (ie, not criminal) petition, alleging that he is subject to the Court's Jurisdiction for having violated the statute. If the charges are proved in Juvenile Court, a judicial finding is made that the minor is subject to the Court's broad control and jurisdiction. The Court’s powers include returning the minor home, imposing formal or informal probation; placement with foster care; enrollment in a special school for juvenile offenders, or even commitment to the State’s Juvenile detention center, sometimes called “Juvenile Hall” or the “Juvenile Jail.” This can continue until the minor comes of age, or even until the age of 21 or 25, depending on each state’s laws. Some states have laws allowing that minors 14 or older committing very serious offenses may even be transferred to adult court and prosecuted and punished like an adult. It is therefore a mistake to take the Juvenile Court process lightly.