Utah Juvenile Court Work Program

Some Utah juvenile courts offer a work program for kids who’ve been assigned court-ordered hours or other restitution responsibilities. There are several benefits for kids who take proper advantage of the juvenile court work program in their district, including the chance to complete their assigned hours in a safe, supervised environment.

When a juvenile is assigned work hours, it is his responsibility to make sure that he performs his hours and keeps track of those hours worked. There is usually an orientation provided that both the child and his parent(s) must attend. You can check with your juvenile court district for orientation times.

Once a youth has been accepted into the work program, he will be given a schedule which must be adhered to. Much like a job, each child is only allowed a certain amount of unexcused absences. In order for an absence to be excused, the child’s parent must leave a message stating the reason for the absence. Some excused absences include:

• Illness
• Medical appointments
• Family trips or emergencies

Plan to dress appropriately for work crew. Most juvenile court work program supervisors don’t allow shorts, sleeveless shirts, dresses, gang-related clothing or open-toed shoes—to name just a few items. Realize that you’re going to be working and probably getting dirty, so dress in comfortable clothes that are modest.

Some other items that aren’t usually allowed for work crew members are:

• Knives/weapons
• Drugs or paraphernalia
• Ipods, etc.
• Lighters

Juvenile court work programs reserve the right to search work crew members. Don’t be sneaky, just follow the rules and you’ll get through the whole process without a lot of fuss.

If your child needs any assistance with legal complications or difficulties, don’t hesitate to contact a Utah juvenile defense attorney. An attorney can make sure that your child is treated fairly and respectfully and can make the entire juvenile legal process more bearable.