How are juvenile delinquency cases processed?
If a person is under the age of eighteen (18) and has been accused of doing something that would be a crime if done by an adult, the case will be handled by the juvenile and domestic relations district court as a delinquency. The juvenile will be notified to appear for an intake interview where the charges will be explained. The juvenile’s parents or legal guardian must be present during all proceedings, or an attorney must be appointed for the minor. In serious cases involving juveniles who are over the age of 14, the prosecuting attorney may ask the juvenile court judge to transfer the case to circuit court where the juvenile will be prosecuted as an adult. A juvenile delinquent has the right to an attorney. The court may appoint an attorney to represent the juvenile if the juvenile’s family cannot afford an attorney. In addition, the court may require the juvenile’s parents to reimburse the court for attorney fees or other costs. The juvenile judge has a wide range of alternatives t
