Juvenile courts play a pivotal role in shaping the future societal outcomes of a nation, given that children and adolescents represent its most valuable asset. The complexity of juvenile delinquency arises from a convergence of social, economic, and psychological factors. When young individuals encounter barriers to social opportunities and experience restricted access to resources, they may be drawn into behaviors that violate societal norms. Recognizing that criminal behavior in youth is not solely the result of personal shortcomings but also arises from unequal social conditions, lawmakers and justice practitioners have sought to create frameworks that balance public safety with the developmental needs of young offenders.

In Iran, this balance has been pursued through specialized legislation and judicial structures aimed at addressing juvenile offenses more flexibly and rehabilitatively than traditional criminal courts. The 2013 Code of Criminal Procedure introduced several provisions related to juvenile adjudication, signifying a step toward specialized processes. However, the status of juvenile courts within the broader judicial hierarchy remains contested: some view these courts as separate entities wielding an exclusive jurisdiction, while others argue that they function simply as specialized branches within the existing criminal court system. This extended abstract focuses on exploring the legal and practical implications of these competing interpretations, examining how the classification of juvenile courts affects procedural fairness, judicial efficiency, and the welfare of young defendants