St. Louis County Family Court: How It Works and the Services It Provides, Exams of Juvenile Delinquency

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St. Louis County

Family Court:

How It Works and the

Services It Provides

Tenets of the Juvenile Justice

System

§ The juvenile justice system has an inherent belief in a juvenile’s capacity to change and be “rehabilitated”. § The system provides individualized justice customized to the needs of the juvenile. § The family should be the primary source of guidance and support.

The Family Court

§ The Family Court has sole authority to hear a

variety of cases including some of the following:

§ Divorce / Custody § Adult Abuse § Juvenile Delinquency § Abuse and Neglect § Adoptions

§ The Family Court system was created in 1993 by

the passage of the Family Court Bill by the

Missouri Legislature.

§ The Family Court is under the direction of an

Administrative Judge.

What is Juvenile Delinquency? § Acts committed by a juvenile that constitute a criminal law violation. Juveniles can also be referred to the Court for status offenses. Status offense are actions that are committed by a juvenile but do not constitute a criminal law violation.

Criminal Acts § All offenses that if committed by an adult would be considered an ordinance violation, Misdemeanor or Felony. § Some of the more common referrals received by the Court § Misdemeanors § Assault 3rd-MA § Stealing-MA § Possession of Marijuana / Drug Paraphernalia-MA § Property Damage 2nd^ –MB § Sexual Misconduct 1st^ MA § Felonies § Assault 2nd-FC § Burglary 1st-FB § Burglary 2nd-FC § Stealing-FC § Unlawful Use of a Weapon-FD

Informal Action

§ Allows a Deputy Juvenile Officer to address the

delinquent behavior of juveniles without the intervention

of a Family Court Judge or a formal petition being filed.

§ In place of a court hearing, a Deputy Juvenile Officer

may meet with a youth and his/her custodians. The

family and Deputy Juvenile Officer develop a contract

which will address the child’s unlawful behaviors and

hold the youth accountable while allowing him/her to

provide reparation to the community/victim.

§ In most instances, these cases involve youth referred to

the Court for either misdemeanor or status offenses.

The Detention Center § The Detention Center of the Family Court of St. Louis County provides for the safe and secure custody of juveniles alleged to have committed an offense that brings them within the Jurisdiction of the Court. § Juveniles are only detained if it is believed that they present a threat to themselves or the community. § Juveniles remain in Detention until the Court hears their case or until appropriate alternative arrangements can be made.

Detention Center Services § Basic Needs § shelter § food § clothing § Support Services § drug/alcohol counseling § arts and crafts § self-help programs § recreational programs § volunteer programs by community members § Mentoring and educational services § voluntary religious services § Educational Services § year round school program offered by SSD

Formal & Informal Court

Interventions

§ Monitoring & Supervision by a Deputy Juvenile

Officer

§ Electronic Home Detention Program

Formal & Informal Court Interventions: Educational Programs § Project LEARN § GED/HiSET

Formal & Informal Court Interventions: Restorative Justice Programs (cont) § Victim Offender Dialogue § Juvenile Conference Committee § Victim Impact Panels § Victim Impact Classes § Mediation Programs § Restitution § Community Service

Formal & Informal Court Interventions: Clinical and Therapeutic § Individual Therapy § Family Therapy § Psychological Evaluations § Group Counseling Programs § Social Skills/Anger Management § Project GUNS § Healthy Lives § Treatment & Support (Sexually Harmful Youth)

Juvenile Delinquency § Youth who have engaged in delinquent behavior require a consistent and measured response. § The Family Court of St. Louis County strives to provide services that give balanced attention to protection of the community, accountability for offenses committed and development of competencies that enable youth to become responsible and productive members of the community.