U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

Youth Guide to the Juvenile Court System

NCJ Number
244351
Date Published
2013
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This guide provides information for youth who are involved with the juvenile justice system in Philadelphia, PA.
Abstract
This guide, developed by youth who have been involved with the juvenile justice system, provides information for youth who are currently involved with the Philadelphia, PA, juvenile justice system. The authors use their own personal experiences to provide information aimed at helping justice-involved youth understand the system as they move through the court process. The main topics covered in the guide are 1) Know Your Rights; 2) Important Dates and Contact Information; 3) Words and Terms You Should Know; 4) Test Your Knowledge; 5) What to Know if You Are in Detention; 6) Tips from Youth about Detention; 7) How to Prepare for Court; 8) What Happens in Court; 9) What Happens if You are "Adjudicated Delinquent;" and 10) Consequences of a Juvenile Record. The last two sections of the guide are a sample calendar for use in keeping track of appointments and court dates, and a list of resources. The resources are separated by type - legal/court resources, education resources, career resources, coping resources, and general information - with the following information provided for each one: name of resource, description of resource, phone number, and address in Philadelphia or resource's Web site.