A child is acquitted when he or she is found not guilty of an offence by a competent authority.

A child is held in administrative detention when he or she is held specifically under the power or order of the executive branch of government and is not subject to the usual juvenile justice or adult criminal justice system procedure.

The adult criminal justice system consists of the laws, procedures, professionals, authorities and institutions that apply to witnesses and victims, and to adults alleged as, accused of, or recognized as having committed a criminal offence.

A child is arrested where he or she is placed under the custody of the police, military, intelligence or other security forces because of actual, perceived or alleged conflict with the law.

Although it may not be an offence under the law in question, children may come into contact with the juvenile justice or adult criminal justice system as a result of being considered to be in danger by virtue of their behaviour, or, through association, by the behaviour of others.