10/10/2024
TERMS YOU MAY HEAR IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM
Accountability: When a child commits a delinquent offense, they bear responsibility for the harm they cause and, if possible, take action to repair the harm and restore the victim's and community's losses to their pre-incident state.
Adjudication Hearing: the state's representative, the Prosecuting Attorney, makes a case to demonstrate that the accused youth committed the offense.
The adjudication of delinquency refers to the court's determination that a juvenile, as accused, has broken the law and requires rehabilitation.
Assessment: An evaluation of the youth’s risks and needs.
A bench warrant is a court order that permits the physical custody of a child or their appearance before the judge.
Community service refers to the work a juvenile performs for the benefit of the community, or to a class or activity they participate in to better understand the harm their actions have caused. Judge orders.
A court order is a document signed by a judge that directs someone to do something. You must follow all the written instructions in the order.
The CRAFFT is a brief clinical tool designed to screen for substance-related risks and problems in adolescents.
A Detention Center is a secured facility that temporarily houses children.
Disposition: If a child receives a delinquent adjudication, this type of hearing determines the sanctions and/or services the youth will receive.
Diversion: A program diverting youth from court if it is determined that public safety can be maintained.
The Division of Youth Services (DYS) provides the most secure and longest-term confinement for juveniles in the state.
Felony: The most serious classification for a delinquent act committed by a juvenile.
Families in Need of Services, or FINS, refers to a category of cases where young people engage in behaviors that would not constitute "violations" if carried out by an adult, such as truancy, running away, or routinely disobeying parents.
The MAYSI-2 is a brief screening tool that helps identify potential mental health issues in adolescents involved in the juvenile justice system.
A misdemeanor is a less serious delinquent offense than a felony.
A Not True Plea is also referred to as a "denial." It functions similarly to a "not guilty" plea.
A Pick-Up Order is a bench warrant that is used to pick up, detain, and bring a youth before the judge for specific non-compliance, particularly when they run away or abscond.
Probation is a supervision status for the youth, during which they must comply with certain conditions and sanctions.
Random Drug and Alcohol Screening typically involves urine tests to detect commonly abused street and prescription drugs or alcohol.
Juveniles are responsible for the monetary damages they inflict on their victims, and the court might mandate that both your child and you compensate the victims for their losses.
Review Hearing: Parents are required to attend a court hearing to review a child's progress.
Revocation of probation occurs when a child on probation violates set rules or conditions. The Court can respond with additional sanctions and/or conditions.
The Structured Assessment of Violence Risk in Youth, or SAVRY, is a research-based assessment tool that identifies a child's risk of reoffending and the services they need through juvenile probation.
A subpoena is a court order that requires a person to appear in court at a specific date and time.
The school district assigns your child a truancy status if they have missed more than the maximum number of days. Parents are subject to a maximum fine of $500.
True Plea—also known as “an admission.” It functions similarly to a "guilty plea."
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