Juvenile Cases

Intake Department:  Decides whether formal or informal intervention with the juvenile offender will be taken.

Inquiry:   An informal hearing between the Family Court intake caseworker, juvenile offender and parent(s).

Pre-Trial:  Meeting between lawyers to see if the case can be settled without going to trial or to see if all parties are ready for trial.

Adjudication:  The trial of the juvenile offender.

Dispositional Hearing:  A hearing at which the court decides placement, counseling or other remedial actions to be taken with the juvenile offender.

Subpeona:  A legal order which requires a person to appear in Court to testify as a witness.

Motion:  Court hearings to answer legal questions.

Adjournment:  A delay asked for by the judge or either side.  The judge must agree to the delay.

Probation:  A sentence that places the juvenile offender under the close supervision of a probation officer.

Restitution:  An amount of money set by the Court to be paid to the victim of a crime for property losses or injuries caused by the crime.