What are the consequences of a juvenile being adjudicated delinquent?

When a juvenile is adjudicated delinquent, it signifies that they have been found to have committed an offense under juvenile law. The focus of the juvenile justice system is rehabilitation rather than punishment, which is why the consequences often include a combination of probation, community service, counseling, or confinement in a juvenile correctional facility.

Probation serves as a way to monitor the juvenile's behavior while allowing them to remain in the community under supervision, providing them with the opportunity to learn from their mistakes and avoid further offenses. Community service can help instill a sense of accountability and responsibility. Counseling aims to address underlying issues that may have contributed to the juvenile's behavior, fostering personal growth and development. Lastly, confinement in a juvenile correctional facility is typically considered a measure of last resort, applied when other interventions may not be effective.

This holistic approach is designed to support the juvenile's rehabilitation and reintegration into society, rather than the punitive measures often seen in the adult justice system.