How are children and youth prosecuted?

Is it common for individuals under the age of 18 to face criminal charges in a distinct court system designed specifically for juveniles. The underlying principle of the juvenile justice system is to avoid penalizing or labeling children for their unlawful actions due to their limited capacity for sound decision-making and moral discernment. Instead, the main focus of the juvenile justice system is rehabilitation rather than punishment. In certain cases involving extremely violent offenses, the offender’s age may warrant a trial in the adult criminal court system.