The youth (14 - to 17-year-olds) and partly also for adolescents (18 - to 20-year-old) current criminal law and criminal procedure, it differs substantially from the general principles of criminal law. In Germany, starts after the Juvenile Court Act (JGG) of 11 12. 1974 in connection with § 10 of the Criminal Code, the criminal responsibility with the age of 14 Year of life if the youth was the time of the offense as its moral and spiritual development mature enough to see the injustice of the act and to act on this insight. Children under 14 are incapable of fault. On adolescent is applied despite civil age, the years when in individual cases the offender at the time of the offense as its moral and spiritual development of even a young person the same standing or it is the character of the deed to a youth misconduct involved.

The J does not define its own Youth offenses. The difference from the adult criminal justice rests with the substantivecriminal law in legal consequences of the act. A youth crime is primarily determined by Educative (Giving instructions; arrangement, assistance for education) to punish if these do not suffice to make the offender aware of the injustice of the act and its obligation to meet this purpose, the offense with Disciplinary measures (Warning, issued with conditions, such as damages, payment of fines, juvenile detention) or Youth custody punished. In contrast to general criminal law incapacity and loss of right to vote shall not be imposed, by the measures of reform and prevention are preventive detention and prohibition excluded, however, is permitted, for example, the withdrawal of the license.

Another focus of the JGG is in the range of the court system. decided by the misconduct of young people Juvenile courts, and in principle, depending on the seriousness of the alleged offense, the Local Court Juvenile Court judge as a judge (if only reformatory or disciplinary measures are expected, the juvenile judge may impose, if necessary, youth custody), the youth lay assessors at the local court (with one judge and two youth jury) or the youth panel District Court (Grand Chamber Youth, three or two judges and two youth jury, she is also responsible for appeals against judgments of the youth jury court, and the small youth chamber chairman and two youth jury decides, however, exclusively on appeals against decisions of single judges). Of the youth panel youth protection chamber is to be distinguished, which is basically not a Chamber of juvenile justice, but the crimes of adults in children and adolescents (youth protection matters within the meaning) deals. The charges against the juvenile courts should be represented by young prosecutors. Juvenile judge, such as youth prosecutor should be empowered educationally.

For the enforcement and execution in the juvenile court pronounced measures as well as in some states for a Pardon In principle, the juvenile court jurisdiction as enforcement director. Court clerks are involved in the business of enforcement. The execution method is also driven by the belief that were realized through a rapid implementation of the measures the youth of the inner connection between action, decision and enforcement is. The fulfillment of a judicial or prosecutorial instructions and conditions will be organized by the juvenile court and controlled. Warnings are in the presence of the guardian will be issued. The Juvenile Hall is completed in juvenile detention facilities or recreational areas of the country's judicial authorities arrest under the supervision of the local youth court. Employees of the Executive Director shall be qualified educationally and experience in youth education. To the young people during the operation the same requirements must be made that are provided with effective education in the freedom of it, they are basically "you" to speak.

The youth custody, even if the detainee of 18 Age has already accomplished, completed in principle in a youth detention center. Through the implementation of the convicted person should be trained to perform in the future a righteous and responsible life, and order, work, education, sports and meaningful leisure activity to form the basis of this education. The execution can be loosened and in appropriate cases, generally held in free forms (ie outside traditional institutions). The officials and other participants must be suitable and trained for these tasks.