Types of Cases Sent to Juvenile Court

In general, Juvenile Court is sent cases where a person is less than eighteen years old (a juvenile) and is:

  • accused of breaking the law(Offender)
  • beyond the control of their parents (At-Risk Youth or Children-In-Need of Services)
  • “skipping” school (Truancy); or
  • being abused or neglected or have been abandoned or their parents cannot take care of them (Dependency)

Offender Cases
Offender cases are those cases where a juvenile is accused of committing an offense. An offense is behavior that is a crime if done by an adult Offenses may be misdemeanors (least serious), gross misdemeanors, or felonies (most serious). Based on reports provided by the law enforcement agency looking into the case, the prosecutor's office may divert an offender case (see Diversion) or may file an "information", accusing a youth of committing an offense. If an information is filed, the juvenile must go to court.

Juvenile Court also is sent traffic and civil infractions if the juvenile charged with the infraction is less than 16 years old. Infractions are not offenses. An example of a traffic infraction is speeding. An example of a civil infraction is underage smoking.

Revised Code of Washington (RCW) Chapter 13.40 is the law that covers juvenile offender actions.

At-Risk Youth
Parents ask the Juvenile Court to assist them in obtaining and maintaining control over their child if the child is under 18 and:

  • Does not have the parent’s permission to be gone, and has not been home at least 72 hours in a row; or
  • is behaving in a way that endangers his/her health, safety or welfare and the parents are unable to control this behavior; or
  • has a problem with drugs and/or alcohol and there are no pending drug or alcohol offenses.
Revised Code of Washington (RCW) Chapter 13.32A is the law that covers juvenile offender actions. Click here for information on ARY petitions and process.

Child in Need of Services (CHINS)
In some cases, conflict between a youth and his/her parents/guardians only can be worked out if they aren’t living in the same home for awhile. In these cases, a parent, the youth or the Department of Social and Health Services may file a CHINS petition. A CHINS petition can be filed if the youth is under age 18 and:

  1. Is behaving in a way that is harmful to his/her (or someone else’s) health, safety, or welfare and the parents are unable to control this behavior; or
  2. Has runaway from where he/she is supposed to be living and has been gone for more than 24 hours in a row and has been reported to law enforcement as a runaway; or has run away from a court ordered placement at least two times and has a serious drug or alcohol problem or is behaving in a way that is harmful to him/herself; or
  3. Needs necessary services and can’t get them or doesn’t want them, and his/her parents have tried to work out the problems while the child is living at home and it either hasn’t worked or they do not want to continue trying to work out the problems with the child living in the home.

Revised Code of Washington (RCW) Chapter 13.32A is the law that covers CHINS actions. Click here for information on CHINS petitions and process.

Before an ARY or a CHINS petition can be filed, there must be a family assessment. Family assessments are done by Family Reconciliation Services (FRS) which is an office in the DSHS Division of Children and Family Services. To get a family assessment:

  • Call (206) 721-6556 if you live in Seattle
  • Call (425) 649-4110 if you live on the eastside of King County
  • Call (253) 872-2664 if you live in south King County

After you have the assessment, a facilitator will meet with the family and help with the filing of an “At-Risk Youth” or “CHINS” petition, provide information and answer any questions the family may have. Facilitators’ offices are located in the King County Youth Service Center in Seattle and the Regional Justice Center in Kent. To contact a facilitator:

  • If you live in Seattle, north King County or the eastside of King County, call (206) 205-9713, or
  • If you live in South King County, call (206) 205-2527

Truancy
By law, children between the ages of 8 and 18 must attend school. If a juvenile “skips” school seven times in a month or ten times during the school year, by law, the school district must file a truancy petition on the child and/or the parents.

Revised Code of Washington (RCW) Chapter 28A.225 is the law that covers truancy actions. Click here for information on Truancy petitions and the process.

Dependency
A dependency petition may be filed if a child has:

  • Been abandoned;
  • Been abused or neglected;
  • No parent, guardian, or custodian willing and capable of adequately caring for the child;

In most cases, before a dependency petition is filed, a Child Protection Services (CPS) caseworker checks on reports that a child has been abused, neglected or abandoned. After the CPS worker finishes checking the matter, if it is thought that the child is not safe where he/she is living, a dependency petition is filed and the child is removed from his/her home and placed with a relative or in shelter care.

Revised Code of Washington (RCW) Chapter 13.34 is the law that covers juvenile dependency. Click here for information on the Family Treatment Court.   Review the King County Domestic Violence and Child Maltreatment Coordinated Response Guideline.