Juveniles4, or people under the age of eighteen, are usually tried in a juvenile3 court for misdemeanor offenses. Misdemeanor offenses are not serious crimes like murder, rape5, or assault, but they are still serious enough to warrant punishment. Crimes are usually classified as felonies and misdemeanors. Generally speaking, felonies are the more serious crimes and are usually punishable by imprisonment6 in a penitentiary7 （pen-uh-'tench-uh-ree）. Misdemeanors are offenses of a less serious nature and are punishable by a fine or imprisonment in a county or local jail. Committing a forgery8 is a felony, but driving an automobile9 in excess of the speed limit is a misdemeanor. The criminal statutes11 define the acts that are felonies and misdemeanors. Occasionally, the same offense1 may be either a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on its degree. For example, the first offense of a crime may be a misdemeanor. After a certain number of convictions for that same crime, the state may prosecute12 the next violation13 as a felony. Punishment for juvenile misdemeanor offenses can range from probation14 to reform school, depending on the seriousness of the crime and if there was any prior criminal behavior. If the juvenile has a long record of serious crimes, he or she may be tried in a regular court as an adult. For more information on juvenile law, consult an attorney.
翻译： 未成年人或者十八周岁以下的人,所犯的罪行为轻罪一般在少年法庭同意审判。轻罪与谋杀、强奸、殴打相比没那样紧急，但理应遭到应有些惩罚。犯罪一般分为重罪与轻罪。通常来讲，重罪是紧急的犯罪行为，遭到的惩罚是进监狱；轻罪从本质上讲是不紧急的犯罪，通过罚款或只在小市或当地监狱关押（笔者注：此句翻译不准，期望网友能有好的建议）。进行伪造是犯重罪，但超速驾驶是轻罪。刑法中的法则概念了什么是重罪、什么是轻罪。有时，依据犯罪情节不同，同样的罪名可能判重刑也会轻判。譬如说，初犯可能轻判，但重复犯同一轻罪，就会进步为重罪。对未成年人犯罪的惩罚，依据犯罪的紧急性与看是不是有前科，可以缓期实行或送到少年管教所，假如未成年人有非常长的紧急犯罪记录，他/她或许会象成年人那样在一般法庭同意审判。要想了解更多有关未成年人法的信息，请向律师咨询。
1 assault n.攻击, 袭击v.袭击
2 warrant n.授权, 正当理由, 依据, 证明, 凭证,委任状, 批准, 许可证vt.保证, 辩解, 担保, 批准, 使有正当理由
3 penitentiary n.监狱, 收留所, 教养所adj.忏悔的, 监禁的
4 excess n.过度, 剩于, 无节制, 超越,超额adj.过度的, 额外的
5 statute10 n.法令, 条例
6 Occasionally adv.有时, 偶而
7 conviction n.深信, 确信, 定罪, 宣告有罪
8 prosecute vt.实行, 从事, 告发, 起诉vi.告发, 起诉,作检察官
9 violation n.违反, 违背, 妨碍, 侵害, [体]违例,强奸
10 probation n.试用, 见习, 鉴别, 查验, 证明, 察看,缓刑
11 prior adj.优先的, 在前的n.预先adv.在
备注：
疑问点：
（1） Misdemeanor offenses are not serious crimes like murder, rape, or assault中, assault是不是可翻译为殴打。
（2） After a certain number of convictions for that same crime, the state may prosecute the next violation as a felony.是不是可翻译为重复犯同一轻罪，就会进步为重罪
（3） Misdemeanors are offenses of a less serious nature and are punishable by a fine or imprisonment in a county or local jail翻译不准确，请网友多提宝贵建议
