Juvenile Delinquency

Juvenile delinquency actions involve violations of laws by a minor.

• If the court finds the allegations of an offense to be true, the minor is declared a ward of the court and usually placed on probation with terms and conditions that are designed to hold the minor accountable for his or her behavior and enable the minor to become a law-abiding and productive member of the community.
   
• The court must balance the interests of public safety and protection, the importance of victim restitution, and the best interests of the minor when deciding what conditions of probation to impose and where to place the minor, if removal from the home is necessary.

For an overview of what happens in a delinquency proceeding, take a look at this Delinquency Proceeding Chart.

The Delinquency Drug Court is an intervention program for minors who are on probation and who are having difficulty staying clean and sober.

• It is a collaborative effort between the Juvenile Court, District Attorney's Office, Probation Department, Public Defender's Office, Health and Human Services Agency, law enforcement agencies, and treatment programs.
   
• By working together, they seek to provide a variety of programs and consistent supervision geared toward supporting and helping minors to maintain a drug-free life.
   
• Drug Court involves frequent court appearances, random drug testing, and group and family counseling.