How are juvenile offenders handled differently in a juvenile justice system than an adult correctional system?
The laws that govern juvenile offenders are in the Texas Family Code (TFC Title 3, Juvenile Justice Code), separate from the criminal code used for adult offenders. Juvenile offenders must be held accountable for their actions, both in terms of being penalized for breaking the law and in making restitution, in some manner, to their victims. The basis for a sound juvenile justice system lies in getting to the root causes of delinquent and law-breaking behavior. Therefore, there is much greater emphasis in the juvenile system on treatment programs, education and preparing juveniles to re-enter the environment from which they came with a greater capacity to be law-abiding citizens. Some differences between the juvenile and adult legal systems include some offenses which apply to juveniles but not to adults, such as runaway and truancy. Length of time on probation is also different, as a juvenile’s probation cannot extend beyond their 18th birthday, and usually lasts only one year. A juven
