Q: What happens after my child is arrested?

A: If the first contact with authorities is with the police, the officers will usually take the juvenile to the Department of Juvenile Service's Intake Center. One of the first questions that must be answered at the Intake Center is whether or not the person in question is a juvenile, The answer to this question will determine what happens next.

In particularly serious matters, the Intake worker can decide to transfer, or waive a juvenile into the adult system. If the matter is to remain in the juvenile system, the intake worker must decide whether judicial action is in the best interests of the public, the juvenile, the juvenile's family, the victim, and the arresting officer. Other factors to be considered are the seriousness of the offense, prior history of the juvenile, and the juvenile's home and school environment. Weighing all of these factors, the Intake Worker can do one of the following:

A. Refer the matter to the State's Attorney's Office for a formal hearing;
B. Order a 90-day period of pre-court supervision without any immediate court intervention;
C. Resolve the matter at the Intake Center by imposing a consequence;
D. Schedule a accountability hearing before a community arbitrator; or
E. Schedule a sanctions hearing before a Neighborhood Youth Panel (NYP).

Q: Can a parent set a punishment to avoid juvenile services intervention?

A: Yes. A parent can instate a "punishment" for the juvenile prior to any official hearing taking place. If the juvenile has no prior history with the system, and the Intake Worker deems the punishment appropriate, the matter may be considered resolved.

Q: What Happens if my child's matter is not resolved at intake?

A: If the matter is not resolved at Intake, several possibilities exist. For first and second-time offenders, 90 day pre-court supervision may be imposed. This may also require restitution, through the repayment of money or community-service work. Another alternative is for the juvenile to be referred to a diversion program which will include the imposition of a 90-day program of supervision.

If these options are not successful, the matter will be referred to the Court for further appropriate action. If it is decided that the juvenile will either offend again or not likely show up for the scheduled hearing, an emergency detention may be imposed. If such action is deemed appropriate, an emergency detention hearing will be held the next day. Following such a hearing, the juvenile may be returned to detention, released to a guardian or fitted with an electronic monitoring device.

Q: What happens to children who are not delinquent but are found to require other services?

A: There are two primary designations for such youths. The first, Children In Need of Supervision (CINS), can be assigned to youths responsible for offenses such as truancy, runaway behavior or ungovernability. These children may be placed in a shelter facility or released to a family member or guardian. The other designation, Children in Need of Assistance (CINA), can also be placed in shelters or referred to programs offering assistance.

Q: What will happen if my child is determined to be delinquent?

A: If a youth is determined to be delinquent, the appropriate Court will request and receive recommendations from the State's Attorney's Office, the youth's defense attorney, and the Department of Juvenile Services. In response, the Court may order probation or protective supervision or may commit the youth to a residential facility.

If transferred to a residential facility, the youth will will receive treatment for mental health disorders, drug and/or alcohol addiction, and/or sexual behavior therapy.

Residential facilities range in terms of levels of confinement from secure "lock-down" environments to more lenient "shelter homes." Examples of the more strict facilities include the Victor Cullen Academy and the Charles H. Hickey, Jr. School. More lenient locations include the Maryland youth Resident Center (MYRC).

Drug and alcohol treatment is offered at the Victor Cullen Academy, the Schaefer House, the Waxter Center, and the Western Maryland Youth Centers. All females reside at the Waxter Center for Girls.

Q: How Can I have a juvenile record expunged?

A: Juvenile records cannot be expunged. At the end of a juvenile case, upon request, records of the matter may be sealed. However, in most cases, juvenile records maintained by the Department of Juvenile Services remain confidential.