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STEPS
Referrals begin with Law Enforcement
When law enforcement responds to a call:
A. They assess the situation: Is there immediate
danger to anyone? Does the juvenile have a history in the Juvenile Justice
System? Is the crime serious enough to involve outside agencies?
B. Based on the initial
assessment, they determine which course of action will be taken.
1. Counsel at the scene or send the juvenile home.
2. Issue a citation and send to Municipal or Justice Court.
3. Make report and send to Juvenile Justice Department.
4. Arrest at the scene and transport to Juvenile Detention.
5. Obtain a Directive to Apprehend. better known as an Arrest Warrant, and
transport to Juvenile Detention when they are found.
Once a police agency or school official sends a case to
the Juvenile
Justice Department, the agency closes their case unless further investigation is
needed. At this point, the Juvenile Justice Department is who the juvenile's
family should contact about further action.
Justice of the Peace
&
Municipal Court
Law enforcement may issue a citation and require a juvenile to appear
before a Justice of the Peace or in a Municipal Court for offenses or crimes
that are Class C Misdemeanors.
Class C Misdemeanor crimes include but are not limited to:
Theft of less than $50.00, Criminal Mischief or damaging property
valued at less than $50.00 and is not graffiti, assaultive behavior that
does not cause serious bodily injury, disorderly conduct, disruption of
class, violation of a city curfew, truancy, failure to attend school and
minor in possession.
The Justice of the Peace or Municipal Court Judge will assess the
referral by looking at the juvenile's history in their court, family involvement,
school recommendations and the attitude of the juvenile when they appear
in court. The judge can dispose of the case in many ways. Below are listed
several of the most common:
A. Counsel and release.
B. Issue a fine to the parents as little as $50.00
and as much as $500.00 per day in the case of truancy.
C. Order the juvenile to do community service.
D. Place on 90 or 180 day probation.
E. Order the juvenile into counseling.
F. Waive jurisdiction and refer on to Juvenile
Court.
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