The structures and functions of juvenile courts vary from country to country, but the court has become an important legal instrument as well as a symbol of the level of care for children within the legal system and the judiciary. Through most of their history, juvenile courts have several common characteristics, including legal proceedings that emphasize informal and direct communication between the judge and the parents or child, a setting that differs in character from formal adult courts, and a decisionmaking process that is more judge-centered than law- centered. In some countries, the courts deal with child protection as well as delinquency. The courts are sometimes separate entities and sometimes have a large staff of non- legal employees such as probation officers and social workers. Despite their problems, juvenile courts should be retained. Recommended guidelines include making them competent in all the rights of children covered by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, requiring that juvenile judges meet specific educational requirements, providing clear guidelines to reduce the negative effects of excessive discretion, access to child development experts, and easy access by children and parents. 22 references