Juvenile Court, History of

Abstract

This entry traces the history of the juvenile court in the United States from the 1800s to the present. Although more due process rights for juveniles have “adultified” the juvenile court, the original goals of parens patriae and rehabilitation remain. In the future, it is hoped that the juvenile court will be able to balance the two sides of the coin, that is, continue to treat children with care and understanding while not depriving them of their basic due process rights, so that they can enjoy the best of both the worlds and become conscientious and productive adults.