A juvenile is usually defined as a minor under a certain age who has committed an act that would be a crime if done by an adult. Juvenile courts are usually handled much differently than an adult case would be. Depending on why the juvenile did the crime, if they have been abused, neglected or mistreated the child can go into governments hands and be in better hands than they were in so that they can be taken care of. The main reason for a juvenile is to rehabilitate so that they do not do it again and can learn form what they have done wrong. It is better than just giving them a long sentence in jail with out helping them to become better. Now many states are setting up stricter standards for the treatment of juvenile offenders. They take less sympathy of the criminal activity on the part of the juvenile . Especially when the offenses are violence or drug related charges. Under some circumstances, many states try a minor over a certain age as an adult in the courts instead of as a minor in a juvenile court. This transfer occurs when the minor has been in serious trouble previously or has committed a violent crime that has caused serious harm to the other person or persons. In a juvenile case the juvenile might be charged with a less punishment than what an adult what get for the some crime and sometimes may depend on the crime. There are many examples that can justify this and a good one would be if a juvenile goes out one day and kills someone. He would not be tried as a juvenile because of how severe the crime was. He was tried as and adult because it is not a minor crime. Most of all the kids that do this are usually charged as adults. But the crime is not murder or something that is really bad then the juvenile would be charged as a minor and not an adult so therefore they would get a lesser sentence.