Juvenile Court Hearings
Court Hearing Types
Alternative to Detention (ATD) Hearing
This is a program the Judge can put a child into that requires the child to stay out of trouble and is used in lieu of secured detention. The youth and parent must voluntarily agree to the program, and the Judge will require the child to do certain things that a probation officer will assist with. The preferred ATD is electronic monitoring/home detention.
Detention Hearing
When a youth is arrested and placed in a detention center, they must see a Judge within 48 hours (not counting weekends or holidays). At this detention hearing, the Judge will decide whether the child has to stay at the detention center or if they can go home. The child will have an attorney appointed by the court for this hearing. The attorney will tell the Judge what the child wants and will give information on who will supervise the child if they get released.
Initial Hearing
This is the hearing where the youth will be told what charges they are being accused of. The youth will have an attorney at this hearing.
Waiver Hearing
This hearing only happens when the prosecutor asks the Judge to take the child’s case out of juvenile court and send it to adult court. The Judge will hear information about the child and the case. The Judge will determine which court is best for the case to be heard.
Fact-Finding Hearing
This is a trial where the Judge will make a legal finding regarding the youth’s innocence or guilt.
Dispositional Hearing
This is a hearing where the Judge will determine the disposition of the case. The Judge can order the child to do many different things, including being on probation, participating in treatment, and even being removed from home and placed in a secure residential treatment facility or in the Department of Correction.
Review Hearing
At this hearing, the Judge checks to see how the child is doing on formal probation. A review hearing is scheduled at least every 6 months until the case is closed.