Letter to Juvenile

Letter to Juvenile

Hello Tommy
Thanks for writing and I understand your concern about what will happen to you after being arrested. You may have several court hearings before your case is resolved. It is extremely important that you appear for all of your hearings. If you do not appear, a warrant for your arrest may be issued. In addition, a parent or guardian must accompany you to your hearings Dress nicely when you come to court. If you wear shorts or a sleeveless shirt, the Judge will send you home and you will have to come back again on another day. Do not wear anything that advertises drugs, alcohol, or nudity. Do not wear gang symbols or colors. Do not wear a hat in the courtroom.
Here are the steps that will happen when you attend court next week.
Step #1 Adjudication
At this phase the judge may release you to your parents or guardian: You may be released to a parent or guardian on your own promise to appear for your next hearing. You will likely be given a curfew as a condition of your release. The judge may do the following.
Release on house arrest: The judge will allow you to go home, but you must stay in your house at all times unless you are attending school or some other activity that has been approved by the Juvenile Probation Department. If you violate house arrest, you will very likely be arrested and sent back to the Youth Justice Center until your next hearing.
He may also do what is called, Held in Detention “With Discretion”: If the judge orders you held with discretion that means that you can be released before your next hearing if your Probation Officer or Juvenile Court Services decides you can be released.
Held “Without Discretion”: If you are ordered to be held without discretion, you cannot be released before you appear in front of the judge again, either at your next hearing, or at a Detention Review which can be requested by your attorney
During the Adjudication hearing the judge will also determine if you will be tried as an adult, he...

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