This document provides information to help youth and families understand their rights when interacting with the juvenile justice system. It discusses what to expect during police contact for minor and serious offenses, the diversion and court processes, and how to work with probation officers and attorneys. It emphasizes the importance of parental involvement, understanding available rights and options, and addressing racial disparities.
1. Advocating for Youth in the
Juvenile Justice System
Know Your Rights
Presented by the Center for Community Alternatives (CCA)
2. Why Its Important to
Know Your Rights
Do you sometimes think you dont need to know
legal stuff because
I am not going to get into trouble
the police will inform me of my rights
my parents/friends will know what to do
juvenile charges are not that serious and no big
deal
3. Am I In Trouble?
Everyday youth are brought into the juvenile justice
system for all kinds of different offenses.
Loitering
Disturbing the peace
Vandalism
Fighting
4. Police Contact
What happens when the police want to talk to
your child?
Identifying information
Questions about criminal activity
Physical restraint i.e. placing hand on shoulder
Consent to search
Right to remain silent
5. Police Contact: Minor Offenses
Police contact for a young person under the age of
16 usually results in
the young person receiving an appearance ticket
stating that probation will contact them
a requirement that the young person and his/her
parents/guardians meet with the assigned
probation officer
6. Police Contact: Serious Offense
Police contact for a young person under the age of
16 usually results in
the young person being escorted to Family Court
where
a parent/guardian will be contacted
judge decides whether to send to detention
facility
OR
after business hours, Hillbrook staff complete a risk
assessment instrument by phone to decide whether
to detain youth
7. Warn and
Release
Appearance
Ticket for
Probation Intake
Probation
intake and
development
of diversion
plan
Probation
intake and
petition to
Family Court
Detain Pending
Court
Appearance
Bring
directly to
court
Call
Hillbrook to
administer
the RAI
Law Enforcement Options for Juveniles at Initial Contact
8. Diversion
The majority of young people who have police
contact will avoid Family Court
An appearance ticket will be issued stating that
Probation will contact the young person
The young person will be assigned a Probation
Officer who will develop a diversion plan that will
require the young person to adhere to certain
conditions
9. Working with the Probation Officer
A parent/guardian must accompany the young
person to the first meeting with the PO.
Remember the PO is trying to help your child avoid
Family Court involvement.
Share any relevant information about your childs
needs with the PO. He/she can help link your
child to services.
Make a good impression. Be cooperative,
respectful, and open to suggestions.
Talk to your child about how to appropriately
interact with his/her PO
10. Taken into Custody
If your child is taken into custody, you should
Get information about where your child is being
held and what the charges are
Try to see your child immediately
Not allow police to talk to your child without
you
Remind your child NOT to talk without an
attorney
11. Family Court Process
Initial Appearance
Release Home
Detention
Probable Cause
Hearing
Convert to PINS
petition
Adjournment in
Contemplation of Dismissal
Fact Finding
Disposition
Conditional
Discharge
Probation
Supervision
Placement with
local service
provider
Placement with
State Office of
Children and
Family Services
12. Juvenile Delinquents
Minor Offenses
Juvenile Offenders
Serious Offenses
Definition At least 7 yrs old & less than 16 yrs
old
A youth 13 to 15 yrs old
Where case decided Family Court County or Supreme Court
Police Contact Taken into custody Arrested
First court appearance Initial appearance Arraignment in Criminal Court
Prosecution Deputy County Attorney Assistant District Attorney
Custody Options Remand to secure or non secure
detention or released
Bail, ROR, remand to secure
detention
Legal Representation Appointed Attorney for the Child Defense Counsel
How case decided Fact Finding Hearing Plea/Trial
Judicial Options Dispositional Hearing
-probation
-placement with OCFS
-Adjournment in Contemplation of
Dismissal (ACD)
-conditional discharge
-restitution
Sentencing, if convicted
-probation
-confinement in an OCFS
secure facility
13. Obtaining an Attorney for the Child
An Attorney for the Child will be appointed at
the young persons first appearance in Family
Court to serve as an advocate and represent
his/her interests.
Parents/Guardians can hire an attorney for their
child. Both court-appointed and hired attorneys
will work to represent the interest of their client.
14. Working with the Attorney:
DO
Make sure to inform your childs attorney of all
pertinent information regarding your child.
Offer to assist with leg work for the Fact-Finding
Hearing.
Provide the attorney with letters of support to
document your childs character.
Stay open minded to advice from the Attorney for
the Child.
15. Working with the Attorney:
DONT
Forget that the attorney is representing your
CHILD, not you.
Cross the line from advocate to annoyance. Be
mindful that your child is NOT the only client of
the attorney.
Underestimate the importance of making a good
impression. Remember the attorney did not know
you before this incident.
16. Family Court
Your attendance in Family Court is very important. A
judge is more likely to allow your child to return home
if a parent is present in court.
If you cannot attend a specific court date, you should
inform your childs lawyer.
Be prepared to wait in the waiting area for long periods
of time.
Always speak to the lawyer prior to a court date so you
can all be on the same page.
17. Social Investigation
The court may ask Probation to complete a Social
Investigation.
A Probation Officer will interview the child, the
parents, and other relevant people. They will also
obtain documentation like school records.
This information will be provided to the Court to:
Give a picture of the childs background and history
Recommend appropriate dispositions
18. How Can I Help
With the Social Investigation?
Be respectful when speaking to the Probation
Officer. Watch your body language and your
attitude as his/her impression of you will be
documented and may affect your childs outcome in
court.
It is important you offer positive information about
your child such as involvement in after-school
activities, good attendance in school, etc.
Be honest and try not to become emotional.
19. Fact Finding Hearing
In a juvenile delinquency case, the trial is called a
fact finding hearing. A fact-finding hearing is
the same as a criminal trial but without a jury.
The judge decides whether the child committed
the acts described in the petition to Family Court
and should be adjudicated a juvenile delinquent.
20. Dispositional Hearing
In a juvenile delinquency case, a sentencing is
called a dispositional hearing.
The County Attorneys office will present
recommendations (that Probation may have
helped develop in the social investigation).
The Attorney for the Child should be prepared
to suggest alternative dispositions.
21. How Can I Help
With the Hearings?
Be present at all court dates and act
appropriately.
Offer to work with the attorney to track down
witnesses, collect letters of support, etc.
Discuss possible dispositions with the attorney:
Ask about the various options
Make suggestions if you have an idea for an effective
disposition
22. How Should I Act in Family Court?
Come early. Contact your childs lawyer if you
are going to be late.
Be respectful and cooperative.
Dress appropriately. No shorts or party clothes.
Be mindful of your body language.
Discuss everything you might want to say to the
judge with your childs lawyer first.
23. You Have the Right
to know the charges against your child if he/she is
taken into custody.
to be involved in creating the diversion plan for your
child.
to a lawyer. An Attorney for the Child will be assigned
to represent your child if the case does go to Family
Court.
to be notified, in advance, when any court dates are
scheduled.
24. You Have the Right
to be present at all court proceedings and inform
the court of how you will supervise your child and
meet release requirements.
to be informed of alternative programs available for
your childs rehabilitation.
to work closely with all aftercare authorities and
community-based agencies involving your child.
25. Why is it Important to
Advocate for My Child?
If the Probation Officer or Attorney for the
Child like you, they may work harder for your
child.
If you are involved in the process, you may be
able to get your child connected to services
instead of just punishment.
If you know your rights and are paying
attention, it is less likely that your child will fall
through the cracks.
26. Disproportionate
Minority Contact (DMC)
DMC occurs when the proportion of
youth of color who pass through the
juvenile justice system exceed the
proportion of youth of color in the
general population.
DMC becomes worse as youth of color
pass through the system starting with
arrest and ending with placement or
incarceration.
27. How Does DMC Happen?
DMC can occur at any point in the processing
of a case in the juvenile justice system from
police contact to placement.
Decision-making based on race can compound
throughout the system resulting in cumulative
disadvantage for youth of color.
28. Cumulative Disadvantage
Law
Enforcement
Deployment
Appearance Ticket/
Warn & Release
Court Appearance/
Police Dropoff
Release/
Detention
Diversion
Petition to
Family Court
Attorney for
the Child
Probable
Cause
Hearing
Fact Finding
Hearing
Disposition
Probation
Violations
Reintegration Services
Cumulative
Disadvantage
29. Onondaga County Disparity
Black Youth as a Percentage of...
72
61
62
40
16
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
OCFS Secure Placements
Cases Petitioned to Family Court
Hillbrook Admissions
Juvenile Arrests
Onondaga County Youth
Population
Percentage
Black youth are:
Arrested 5.27 times more
often
Securely detained 1.42
times more often
Petitioned to Family
Court 1.14 times more
often
than White youth
30. Juvenile Record
The moment your child enters the juvenile
justice system, a record is created. When your
child is arrested, there is a record of your childs
arrest, even if no charges are filed
If charges are filed, the record will also include
the charges against your child, whether your
child was adjudicated delinquent, and any
records from probation
31. Parental Involvement
Rememberyour involvement during this
difficult process is very important. Your child is
scared and, in most instances, will not know
how to react to all that is happening to them.
Your child will need you to remain calm and
show by example how he/she should behave.
Talk your child and keep in mind both of you
are very emotional.