Utah’s Juvenile Court System Working to Help Troubled Youth

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The Juvenile Court is a court of special jurisdiction and includes 28 full-time judges and one commissioner. Like the District Court, it is broken up into different districts based on Utah geography and services those living within the respective districts.
The Juvenile Court has exclusive original jurisdiction over youths, under 18 years of age, who violate any federal, state or municipal law, and any child who is abused, neglected or dependent. The court has the power to determine child custody, support and visitation in some circumstances; to permanently terminate parental rights, and to authorize or require treatment for mentally ill or retarded children. The court may also place children under the supervision of the court’s probation department; place children in the custody or care of foster homes, group homes, special treatment centers, or secure institutions. The Court works closely with the Office of Guardian ad Litem on cases involving abuse, neglect or dependency. The Court may also require children to pay fines or make restitution for damage or loss resulting from their delinquent acts. It also has jurisdiction over habitual truants, runaways and ungovernable youth if efforts by other social service agencies are not successful.
In addition, the Court has exclusive jurisdiction in traffic offenses involving minors related to automobile homicide, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, reckless driving, joy riding, and fleeing a police officer. It has concurrent jurisdiction with the District and Justice Courts over adults contributing to the delinquency and neglect of a minor.
There are certain factors which place a juvenile at higher risk of coming into contact with the Juvenile Court. These factors include:
• Parental Rejection
• Level of parent-child involvement
• Lack of parental supervision
• Stressful marital relations
• Parents criminal activity
• Authoritarian child rearing attitudes
• Harsh/lax/inconsistent discipline practices
• Low emotional attachment
• Low parental education and income
• Poor family functioning
• Poor monitoring and supervision

As a parent you can watch for signs that your child may be having problems. Signs to watch for are:

• Disregard for rules, responsibilities
• Refusal to go to school
• Drugs,
• Stealing or theft
• Emotionally unstable behavior