Social workers, attorneys and other advocates agree that there is no such thing as a typical path through the juvenile justice system. Judges, parole officers and police officers all have some say regarding whether a minor, 18 or under, will get off with a warning, enter a program or serve time. These decisions are based on a list of factors including—but not limited to—the girl’s family situation, past record, the seriousness of the offense and the services available in a county or state.

Although no two journeys through the juvenile system are exactly the same, there are common stops along the way from arrest to sentencing.

Use a flowchart of the U.S. juvenile justice system to trace 16-year-old Jane Doe’s hypothetical path >>