Youth Court

More About the Potential Actions of the Court

1) Take No Action - the case and Youth Court process will end. 

2) Informally Adjust - a meeting will be scheduled between the court staff, the judge, and all parties involved to discuss the case, and the consequences of continued behavior. 

3) File Petition - the Youth Court Prosecutor will file a petition in the matter, an attorney will be appointed to the juvenile, and the matter will be set for formal court. The parties will be served with process by the Sheriff Department to appear before the Youth Court wherein the matter will be heard in court. The proceeding will start with an Adjudication Hearing, where the Judge listens to all testimony and determines if the juvenile committed the offense they are charged with in the petition. If adjudicated, a Disposition Hearing follows, usually immediately thereafter. The purpose of a disposition hearing is to determine the scope of continued Youth Court involvement, and any consequences that may be imposed. Disposition rulings may include: probation, house arrest, mental health treatment, civil fee, restitution, community service, training school, etc. The disposition ruling is based on the offense, and is individualized to each case. 

Abuse/Neglect Cases: CPS matters are handled entirely the same, except that they come directly from Child Protection Services and are immediately sent to the Judge for determination on how to move forward with the case. The Court staff does not contact the parties or make a recommendation. 

Youth Court is STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL - NO INFORMATION regarding the case may be disclosed without prior authorization from the Court. Nor should information involving youth be discussed outside court hearings or meetings. The role of the Youth Court is to help serve our children, our families, and our community at large.