Glossary

Adjudication

An adjudication is when you go to court and the juvenile court judge decides if you broke the law or not.

Burden of Proof

When you are charged with a crime, the prosecutor has to prove that you committed the crime, rather than you proving that you did not commit the crime.

Charge

The law that the district attorney believes the youth has broken.

Collateral Consequences

Collateral consequences are the ways that a juvenile record can create challenges for you as you move forward with your life, like getting a job, applying for college, finding a place to live, joining the military, or simply obtaining a driver’s license.

Continuance

When your court date gets put off to another date in the future.

Cross-examine

Questioning of a witness by the lawyer for the other side.

Defense Lawyer

A defense lawyer is a lawyer who defends you in your juvenile case, they are on your side. Everything you tell them is kept a secret. They are not your parents’ lawyer, they are YOUR lawyer.

Delinquent Child

What a youth found to have broken the law is called in juvenile court.

Disposition

A disposition in juvenile court is similar to a sentence in adult court. The disposition in your case is what the judge requires you to do because the judge decided that you broke the law. Your disposition could include probation, attending a treatment program, paying money, or being sent to a locked juvenile facility.

EMP

Electronic monitoring program: an ankle-bracelet tracking system.

Evidence

Things that witnesses say in court and things (such as photographs, clothes or drawings) that are brought to court to prove or disprove the charges against you.

Juvenile Record

Your juvenile record includes the court and police paperwork related to your juvenile case.

Petition

A legal document submitted to the juvenile court containing the allegations (charges) against a youth.

Plea

The answer the youth gives (true or not true) to the charge.

Sealing

If your juvenile record is sealed, it means that the records will be closed and no one can look at them without a special court order.

Sentence

The punishment the judge gives to someone found guilty of breaking the law.

Sealing

If your juvenile record is sealed, it means that the records will be closed and no one can look at them without a special court order.

Statement

A description about what happened that anyone gives to the police and that police write down.

Status Offense

A charge against a child that would not be a crime if committed by an adult. Running away from home is one example of a status offense.

Subpoena

A piece of paper delivered by a sheriff that tells a person when and where to come to court.

Testify

When someone answers questions under oath in court.

Testimony

What a witness says in court under oath.

Transcript

A typewritten record that is made by the court reporter of what is said in court.

Ward of the Court

Minor under the legal guardianship of the state.

WIC

California Welfare and Institutions Code, the portion of state law dealing with juveniles.

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