Compare and contrast the juvenile system and the adult system.

There are many similarities between the juvenile and adult system. In both systems, police officers use discretion. Juvenile and adult offenders receive constitutional rights at the time of arrest, and both can be placed in pretrial facilities. The juvenile and adult courts use proof beyond a reasonable doubt as the standard of evidence, and both can plea bargain their charges. There are also differences between the two systems. Juveniles can be arrested for acts that would not be criminal if they were adults. Age determines the jurisdiction of the juvenile court and does not affect the jurisdiction of the adult court. Juvenile proceedings are more informal, while adult proceedings are formal and open to the public. Juvenile courts cannot sentence juveniles to jail or prison. Only adult courts can issue such sentences.

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