Why do juveniles in the United States generally not have a right to a jury trial?

The juvenile court system in the United States was historically established as a coercive social-work agency rather than a traditional criminal court. Its founding philosophy was rooted in the role of a welfare tribunal, acting as a substitute parent to prioritize rehabilitation and the resolution of family issues over adversarial criminal proceedings.12

Because these courts were designed to operate informally and paternally—focusing on an "adjudication" of facts rather than a formal determination of guilt or innocence—procedural standards were traditionally kept elastic. While legal challenges have successfully extended certain due-process rights to juveniles, such as the right to counsel, the right to cross-examine witnesses, and protection against self-incrimination, the right to a jury trial has not been extended to them. Critics argue that this lack of formal protections, including the absence of a jury, undermines the constitutional rights of youth and fails to serve their best interests, despite the system's stated goal of providing special care.12