Juvenile Court Legal Terms
Having a knowledge of frequently used legal terms can be very useful to anyone involved in the court system in Utah. You may not always know why something happens a particular way, but at least you will understand what the judge and attorneys are talking about. Knowing legal terms will also help you communicate more effectively with your Utah juvenile defense attorney.
Adjudication: This is giving a judgment or decree, or rendering of a decision on a matter before the court.
Arraignment: This is the first hearing before a judge after a petition has been filed. The juvenile will be asked whether the charges brought against him are true or false, and then he will be asked to give his plea.
Arraignment Waiver: This form allows the juvenile to bypass the arraignment and go directly to the pretrial.
Citation: A citation is issued by law enforcement and tells the juvenile where and when to be to give their answer to the charge(s) against them.
Contempt of Court: An act of disrespect to the court or failure to obey the court’s rules or orders. A contempt of court charge may come with a 30-day penalty in detention for a juvenile.
Delinquency: When a juvenile commits an illegal act.
Dispositional Report: The juvenile probation department or other appropriate agency will submit this written report to the judge to assist him in determining a proper disposition.
Expungement: If a juvenile reaches a certain age or a particular period of time has passed and the juvenile has not committed another illegal act, his or her records may be destroyed or sealed.
Intake Officer: A probation officer employed by the court who evaluates the juvenile and determines if the juvenile should be brought before a judge or sentenced nonjudicially.
Non-judicial Agreement: This agreement is between the juvenile, his parent and the intake officer. It stipulates that no petition will be filed with the court if the juvenile admits to the charges and fulfills his end of the agreement.
There are several more legal terms which will be covered in our next blog entry. Keep in mind that knowing legal terms is not a substitute for a qualified Utah juvenile defense attorney. Remember that your attorney has been educated and received on-the-job training in order to provide your child with the best defense possible. Allow your attorney to do his job and concentrate on doing what is best for your son or daughter.
