juvenile-justice
UK[ˈdʒuːvənaɪl ˈdʒʌstɪs]US[ˈdʒuːvənəl ˈdʒʌstɪs]
n
The area of law and the system of courts, social services, and agencies concerned with the treatment of children and young persons who are accused of committing a crime.
Morpheme Breakdown
juvenile
justice
juvenile
young
justice
fairness, law
Etymology
The term 'juvenile-justice' is a modern compound that directly combines two distinct Latin-derived concepts. 'Juvenile' traces back to the Latin juvenis, a Proto-Indo-European descendant meaning 'young', which evolved to signify the period of youth. 'Justice' originates from Latin ius (law, right), related to concepts of binding and order, giving rise to iustitia meaning 'fairness'. The compound's logic is transparent: it denotes the legal framework ('justice') specifically designed for or applied to young people ('juvenile'). This system reflects a societal shift from treating young offenders identically to adults towards a philosophy emphasizing rehabilitation, protection, and a distinct legal process tailored to their developmental stage.
Analysis
Structure: juvenile (young) + justice (fairness, law)
- juvenile: From Latin juvenilis, meaning 'youthful, young', from juvenis ('young person'). In this compound, it functions as an adjective specifying the type of justice.
- justice: From Latin iustitia, meaning 'righteousness, equity', from iustus ('just'). In this compound, it functions as the head noun, indicating the system or administration of law.
Examples
The reform aims to make the juvenile-justice system more focused on rehabilitation than punishment.
She has dedicated her career to advocating for changes in juvenile-justice policy.
The report highlighted significant racial disparities within the juvenile-justice system.