What are some of the services to which the probation officer might refer the child?
A probation officer can refer a child to psychiatric, psychological, educational, medical, dental, or social services, including individual and family therapy. How does a CHINS case proceed? The child and parent or guardian may reach an agreement, and the probation officer may decide to continue the case on an informal basis (i.e., the case does not go before the judge) and monitor the progress of the family. If the child and parent or guardian cannot reach an agreement, or if they do not cooperate with the probation officer, the probation officer can decide to proceed on a formal basis, which means that the judge will hear testimony and then decide whether to issue the petition. What happens before the CHINS is heard? The judge will assign an attorney to represent the child. The attorney’s role is to represent the child’s wishes to the judge. The attorney does not represent the parents or guardians. Will the parents or guardians be assigned an attorney? No. However, the parents or gua
