The juvenile justice system is the set of processes and practices for dealing with young people who have committed or allegedly committed an offence. In Australia, the juvenile justice system deals primarily with young people aged 10-17 at the time of the offence (10-16 in Queensland), although there are some variations among the states and territories. Juvenile justice is also known as youth justice.
In Australia, juvenile justice is the responsibility of state and territory governments, and each has its own legislation, policies and practices. These systems share a number of characteristics, including the general process by which young people are charged and sentenced and the types of legal orders available.
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