ErequentlyUseOferms
t
Adjudication - Hearingheld to determinethe facts of
the case and an appropriatecourse of action.
Gommitment - A conclusionthat places a youth in
custodyfor supervision,treatment,and rehabilitation.
Gommunity Schools * Communityschoolsare nonresidential,community-basedalternative schools for
delinquentand unrulyoffenders.
GontracUAttention Homes - Provide residential
treatmentfor delinquentand unrulyyouth whose home
situationis contributingto their behavior.
JuvenileCourt MissionStatement
To restore and redirect,as law abiding citizens,
childrenwho have admittedto or been found in
violation of the law, while protectingthe best
interestsof each child and the community,leaving
the childrenin their homeswheneverpossible.
Chief Judge:DesireeSuttonPeagler
Judge:VincentCrawford
Judge:LindaB. Haynes
Judge:ElliotA. Shoenthal
Victim-Witness
Assistance
Program
Juvenile
Cou
Designated Felony Commitment - An adjudication
that a youth has committedcertainfelonyacts requiring
restrictivecustody.
Informal Adjustment - Dispositionof a case where
the act that is not serious in nature and appears
appropriatefor non-adjudicatorycoursesof action.
IntensiveSupervision Programs - To minimlzeoutof-home placementsand providedaily contact.
Mediation - Where both parties sit down and try to
work out any differenceswithoutformal adjudication.
Short Term Treatment Program (STTP) - Refers to
juvenileproceedings,and states "...the court may, in
additionto any other treatmentor rehabilitation,
order a
child to serve up to a maximumof 90 days in a youth
developmentcenter..."
Non-Secure Detention - The CommunityDetention
Programprovidesa non-securealternativeto detention
in a RegionalYouth DetentionCenter.
Regional Youth Detention Genter - Centers that
provide temporary, secure care, and supervision of
youth who are chargedwith/foundguilty of crimes.
Specialized Residential Services -These youth
require either long-term residential placement or
specializedtreatmentservicesfor mental healthcare.
Victim lmpact Statement - A statementthat givesthe
victim the opportunityto put into writing how they were
affectedby the crime that was committedagainstthem.
This goes into the file and is read by the DAs Officeand
the Judge.
Wrap-around Services - Services providedfor those
youth returninghome.
DeKalb Gounty Juvenile Cour!
8:30 a.m.until5:00p.m.Monday- Friday
GregoryA. Adams JuvenileJusticeCenter
4309 MemorialDrive
Decatur,GA 30032
Main: 4041294-2700
Intake:4041294-2765
Victim-WitnessAssistance:4041297-4491
Fttx: 404t294-2710
Directions
From NorthMest
285 South/Eastto Exit41 (MemorialDrive)
From South/East
285 NorthAlVest
to Exit 41 (MemorialDrive)
Office of the District Attorney
Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit
DeKalb Counfy, Georgia
Go west on MemorialDrive(towardsthe jail)
Gwendoll-nKe.v-es
Flemin g
The DeKalbCountyJuvenileCourtbuildingis
locatedjust past the jail on the left.
District Attorney
www.dekalbda.org
Free parking in the vicinity
Victim-Witness
Assistance
4041297
-4491
General
The JuvenileCourt Divisionof the DeKalbDistrict
Attorney's Office is responsible for prosecuting
criminal cases against juveniles in front of the
JuvenileCourt.
Juvenile Court vs. Adult Court
The juvenile justice system functions differently
from the adultjusticesystem.Juvenilecourtstend
to gear penaltiestowardsrehabilitation
ratherthan
punishment,judges rather than juries decide
cases, and recordsof offensescan be sealedafter
two (2) years. The juvenilecrimeis calledan act of
"delinquency".Juvenile Courts have their own
special rules, procedures,and terminology.The
followinglist of commonlyused terms in Juvenile
Court shows the correlationto the terminologyin
the adultsystem.
Juvenile Justice
System
Adult GriminalJustice
System
AdjudicationHearing
Trial
FoundDelinquent
Convicted/Found
Guilty
Disposition
Sentencing
Detention
Jail
Typesof JuvenileGourt Programs
SoecialServices
. Teen Court
. Girls/BoysPeer Group
LifeSkills/ Anger Management
. Teen Peace
. WinningCircle
. Anger Management
Parenting
Supoor!
. Daylight
Program
. Strengthening
Families
Counseling
. FamilyTies
. Sexual Offender
Substance
Abuse
. DrugCourt
. Primefor Lifel
. Marijuana
Anonymous
ErequentVnsfeU Oue
JuvenileCourtCaseFlow
How Long Will Court Be?
Juvenile Court proceedings are one day.
However, certain cases may be continued to
anotherdate for differentreasons. The District
Attorney'sOffice will try to notify you if we know
of any changesaheadof time.
Formal Complaint - Takenby a law enforcement
officeror a victim. The complaintis the criminal
charge.
What Gan I Expect In The Gourtroom?
JuvenileCourt is closedto the public. When you
testify,you will be sworn in and attorneysfor the
State and defendant will ask questions.
Appropriatedress is requiredin JuvenileCourt.
Petition To The Court - A petition is filed in
JuvenileCourt. The petitionsetsforththe charges
againstthe juvenile.There are time limitationsfor
a petitionto be filed, dependingon whetherthe
juvenileis held or released.
As A Victim, Do I Need An Attorney?
No. In a criminal/delinquent
matter the District
Attorney'sOffice, on behalf of the victim and the
State, proceeds on the charges against the
individualwho committedthe act againstyou.
Detention Hearing - To determineif reasonable
grounds exist ("ProbableCause")to believethe
allegationsare true.
Will I Have To See The Defendant?
You will see the defendantonly if the case goes
to an AdjudicatoryHearing (trial). The District
Attorney'sOffice providesa separatewaitingarea
for victimsand witnesses.
What Other Options Do I Have To Collect
Restitution?
Youmay inquirewith a privateattorneyaboutyour
optionsin civilcourt to collectfrom the parentsof
the defendant.
What Happens lf I Am Unable To Appear On
The Date That ls On My Subpoena?
Pleasecall our office as soon as possible. The
sooner you call the better chance we have of
resettingthe case in which you are involved. lf
you have a problemon the day of court, call the
officeso that we may speakto the Judgeon your
behalf and possiblyresetthe case.
It is VERYimportantthat you contact
this office with any changeof
addressor phonenumber.
Intake - Where complaints are taken and
preliminaryinvestigations
are prepared.
Arraignment - At Arraignment,the charges
againstthe juvenileare read aloud in Court and
the juvenileadmitsor deniesthe allegedoffenses.
Adjudication Hearing - Equivalentto a trial in
adultcourt. The Judgedetermineswhetherthere
is a "delinquency"(guilty)finding regardingthe
juvenile.
Disposition Hearing - Once a juvenile is
adjudicated(found guilty),a separatehearing is
set to determine the type of treatment,
rehabilitation,
or supervisionthat is neededfor the
juvenile.Shouldthe juvenilelivein anothercounty,
dispositioncan be transferredto that county.
Restitution- Restitutionis consideredpart of the
juvenile'srehabilitationin an effort to make the
victim financiallywhole. Restitutionis the out-ofpocket expense that the victim incurred because
of the actionsof the juvenile.You will be askedto
bring all receipts, insurance information, and
records of any other expenses that were not
covered.