Juvenile Court is responsible for adjudicating matters regarding minors.

Crimes committed by children and minors are treated differently and differentially regarding the same crimes committed by adults to give young, impressionable youth a second chance. 

Cases generally fall into three major categories:

Delinquency cases may be filed by an adult, when juveniles aged 10-17 commit an act that would be a crime (not including traffic or game and fish violations) or minors in possession of handguns. The prosecuting attorney files a petition with the court and the juvenile and his/her parents are made defendants and must answer to the court.

Dependency-Neglect cases may be filed when a juvenile is abandoned, abused, sexually abused, neglected or where the child is at great risk of harm due to unfit parenting. These cases usually involve the Department of Human Services (DHS). The goal of the juvenile court and the DHS is to reunite families, if it is in a child's best interest and the child can safely return home, by developing a permanent plan for the child, which could include adoption.

Family In Need of Services (FINS) cases may be filed when a child’s behavior includes such acts as running way, being truant or being disobedient to his/her parents and it is brought to the attention of the juvenile authorities, often by parents or school officials. The goal of a FINS case is to work out a course of action to stop these problems. FINS cases also include kids who commit crimes who are under 8 and kids who have mental health and alcohol and drug abuse problems.