Juvenile Court Process

Law Enforcement Role - Cases handled by the Juvenile Court are referred by the police and through the prosecuting attorney's office. The accused juvenile will be taken to a detention center if the law enforcement officer determines that he or she is a danger to the public and the offense meets legal guidelines. The majority of juveniles are sent home after being arrested to wait for further action by the courts.

Detention - Detained youths must attend a hearing with a judge within 48 hours (72 hours if a holiday is involved) of their being held. If the judge decides the juvenile will remain in detention, formal charges must be filed within five working days of the detention hearing. With some exceptions, detention is designed to be a temporary placement.

What Happens to Your Case - Once your case reaches the court it is assigned to a court officer who meets with both the youth and parent to determine what action is necessary. If the juvenile denies the charge(s), the court officer may refer the charge(s) to a prosecuting attorney for further action.

If the juvenile admits to the charge(s), the court officer has these options:

Request a hearing before a judge to determine an appropriate disposition.

Develop a "non-judicial closure" - This means the juvenile agrees to voluntarily comply with the court officer's recommendations: e.g.: payment of restitution, community service hours. If the juvenile fails to complete the agreement in the specified time then a formal court hearing will be held.

The court officer's choice of action could depend on factors such as the juvenile's age, past record, severity of the offense, attitude and family situation.

Victim Offender Meetings - Several of the juvenile court districts offer a program in which a skilled mediator brings victims and offenders together in a safe setting. The meeting allows victims to express to the offender the damage that was done, the feelings which resulted and to discuss ways to repair the harm done. Participation is voluntary. If interested contact your court officer or victim coordinator.

For more information call the State Restorative Dialogue Program Coordinators at (435) 986-5754 or (801) 578-3974.