Juvenile justice is criminal law applicable to persons not old enough to be held responsible for criminal acts, usually, the age for criminal culpability is 18. The goal of the juvenile justice system is rehabilitation. Juveniles can be transferred into adult court if juvenile court waives or relinquishes jurisdiction.

The doctrine of parens patriae authorizes the state to legislate the protection, care, custody, and maintenance of children within its jurisdiction. The federal role is of funder and standard setter.Congress passed the Juvenile Delinquency Prevention and Control Act in 1968, in 1972 it was revised and renamed the Juvenile Delinquency Prevention Act. This assists states and local communities in preventative services to youth in danger of becoming delinquent and provides training in services and technical assistance occupations . The Act defines juvenile delinquency as any act that is otherwise a crime, committed by someone under 18, and sets rules state laws must comply with in juvenile court procedures and punishments.--Juvenile justice: an overview Cornell Law School