Juvenile

The juvenile officer handles cases involving youths under the age of 17.  He handles these cases differently than those over 17 years of age as he attempts to mediate and advocate youth as opposed to taking out charges in some cases.  When he has no other choice he will charge the youth in the juvenile system.  He works with the juvenile probation department if a youth shows signs of delinquency.  The parents of the youth may obtain a CHINS warrant in order to guide the youth and keep their destructive behavior away.   He maintains constant contact with the schools in the town as well as with state agencies including the Department of Social Services and the Department of Youth Services.  The juvenile officer’s goal is to guide youth through the “Bumpy” times in their childhood to become respected adults.