Criminal Law Terms

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Joyriding
Joyriding, or unlawful use of an automobile, is a misdemeanor offense. The charge of joyriding alleges that a person or persons took an automobile without authority, although under a joyriding charge there is no need to prove intent to steal, and usually joyriding does not involve the intention of stealing the vehicle. Persons who were a party to joyriding may also be charged.

Juvenile
A juvenile is a person who is under the age of 17. Traditionally, minors who charged as juveniles receive less severe punishment, as society does not hold the same expectations for a juvenile as for an adult. A minor who has committed a heinous crime may lose juvenile status in the eyes of the court, and be charged as an adult.

Juvenile Court
Juvenile Court is designed especially for the judgment of crimes committed by minors. Usually, a Juvenile Court is a division of another court, such as the Probate or Family Courts. In Juvenile Court, defendants usually have more informal hearings rather than a jury trial, and the Juvenile Court judges often take into consideration the home life and schooling of a Juvenile Court defendant. Judgments handed down in a trial that takes place in a Juvenile Court will usually recommend punishment appropriate to a child, and in most cases, Juvenile Court convictions will be removed from the defendant's record at the age of 18.