General
Probation is a supervision program created by law, which is ordered by the court in cases involving a youth who is found to have committed a delinquent act. Probation is a legal status in which the freedom of the youth is limited and the youth’s activities are restricted in lieu of commitment to the custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice.
Law enforcement agency charges youth with law violation. Depending on the seriousness of the offense and the law enforcement officer's view of what is needed to appropriately address the offense, the next step may be:
- Deliver youth to a Juvenile Assessment Center (JAC) for intake screening to further assess youth's risk to the community and determine if some type of detention is necessary.
- Call an "on call screener" to assess youth's risk and determine if detention is necessary (this is done in localities where a JAC is not available).
- Release youth to a parent or guardian and forward the charges to the local clerk of court and DJJ Probation office.
- Release the youth to parent or guardian with a direct referral to a "diversion program".
After a law enforcement agency charges your child with a law violation, depending on the seriousness of the offense and the law enforcement officer's view of what is needed to appropriately address the offense, the next steps may be:
- Your child is taken to a Juvenile Assessment Center (JAC) or a Juvenile Detention Center for detention intake screening.
- Screening assesses the risk your child may pose to the community and determines if some type of detention is necessary.
- Your child may be released to you or placed in a secure facility depending on the outcome of a detention risk assessment.
- Your child may be released to you with a direct referral to a diversion program.
- Charges are forwarded to the Clerk of the Court and the Probation Office.
Depending on the detention screening assessment your child may be released to your custody or placed in a secure facility pending a court hearing. You must contact the detention facility, and ask for the designated visiting hours. Special requests may be made through the youth’s case manager and/or program superintendent.
A Juvenile Probation Officer (JPO) provides important services:
- Initial intake service on referrals from law enforcement for youth under the age of 18 at the time the offense was committed.
- Assessment(s) and referrals for services based on youth risk and needs.
- Community-based intervention services that may include supervision.
You may find contact information at the following link
Juvenile Probation Officer Supervisor Contacts
to search by county and city or refer to the
Probation Leadership Main Directory
for contact information.
A JPO is assigned to all youth referred to DJJ. This does not mean that your child is or will be on probation.
A JPO is the front-line staff member who delivers case management services to your child and your family. For the most part, your child’s JPO is the single-point of contact for you and your child as your child’s case moves through the juvenile justice system.
The JPO is the staff member who recommends how to handle your child’s law violation, which may range from a non-judicial diversion program, probation supervision, or commitment, including residential commitment.
If your child goes to a residential commitment program, then your single-point of contact during that time will be your child’s residential social worker who is a member of the treatment team at the residential program.