The Decision-Making Process in Juvenile Court

The First Decision in Juvenile Court

In juvenile court, the first decision to be made is whether or not to file a petition of juvenile jurisdiction. This initial step is crucial as it sets the tone for the entire legal process involving a minor.

Referrals to Juvenile Court

It is important to note that not all referrals made to juvenile court end up with the filing of a petition. In fact, nearly half of the referrals do not result in a petition being filed.

Steps After Filing a Petition

If the prosecutor or probation officer decides to proceed formally, they will file a petition in juvenile court. This sets off a series of events where the minor is brought before a judge or referee for an arraignment, which is a formal charge reading. Depending on the circumstances, the court may even transfer the case to adult criminal court.

Definition of "Arraign"

The term "arraign" means to call or bring someone before a court to answer a criminal charge. This legal procedure is a critical step in the juvenile court process as it establishes the minor's formal involvement in the case.

Answer:

The first decision made in juvenile court is whether or not to file a petition of juvenile jurisdiction. However, nearly half of the referrals to juvenile court do not result in a petition.

Explanation:

If the prosecutor or probation officer decides to proceed formally, he or she will file a petition in juvenile court. The minor is then "arraigned" (formally charged) in front of a juvenile court judge or referee. In some cases, the court may decide to send the juvenile to adult criminal court.