Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA)

A DPA is a written agreement that is created and agreed to without a formal court order. The intake worker and youth agree to certain requirements that are expected to be followed and completed within a certain time frame. A DPA can be held open for up to one year. At any point during the DPA, the youth or intake worker can revoke the DPA. If the DPA is revoked, the original referral will be sent to the District Attorney’s Office for a filing of a petition. If the youth successfully complete the DPA, no further action is taken by the department.

Consent Decree

A consent decree is an agreement whereby the parties all agree to the disposition recommendations, however, there is no actual finding that the youth is delinquent. The case is held open for a period of time and if there is compliance with the terms of the consent decree, the case is dismissed. If the youth violate the consent decree, the case will likely return to court where a delinquency finding may be made, and a formal court order may be entered. A youth can be placed on a consent decree with or without services.

Ongoing Supervision Services

If a petition is filed with the court and the youth is adjudicated delinquent, a full YASI assessment will be completed by a youth justice worker for case planning purposes. The youth justice worker will be responsible to work with the family, monitor the progress of the case, and support the youth and family in successfully completing the period of formal court supervision. The length of supervision can be up to one year.

The YASI case plan will identify areas of strengths and needs to establish agreed upon outcomes. The case plan will identify services and supports to the help the youth achieve their goals. The youth justice worker will assist in identifying and locating community services and supports. The services and supports may be both formal and informal that address a varying domains within the YASI.

The youth’s case plan will be reviewed regularly during their period of supervision and changes to the plan will occur when needed. The youth justice worker will work with the youth and family until they have successfully completed their term of supervision.

If a youth receives a new law enforcement referral while on supervision an updated YASI will be completed along with a possible new recommendation to the District Attorney’s Office. A new petition may be filed by the District Attorney’s Office.

Intensive Supervision Program (ISP)

If a youth is court ordered to the Intensive Supervision Program, an intensive youth justice worker may meet with the youth and family up to five days a week. The intensive supervision program is for youth to be determined high-risk to the community or at risk of an out-of-home placement. If a youth is court ordered in the Intensive Supervision Program, the youth is subject to 72-hour holds, placed on electronic monitoring, or placed on a crisis stabilization hold for up to 30 days.

 Electronic Monitoring Program (EMP)

Electronic monitoring is an GPS ankle device used to monitor the whereabout of the youth. A youth can be placed on an electronic monitoring device for up to 30 days once ordered by juvenile court. If a youth is part of the Intensive Supervision Program, they can be placed on a electronic monitoring device without authority from juvenile court. If a youth violates the electronic monitoring program, they may be placed in a shelter care facility or secure detention.

Sanctions

When a youth violates their case plan or court-ordered supervision requirements, a sanction may be filed with the court. When a sanction is filed, a court hearing occurs where the judge reviews the requested sanction and may impose the sanction. A sanction can include 30 days of home detention, 30 days of electronic monitoring, up to 25 hours of community service, up to 10 days of placement in a shelter care facility or secure detention, or a suspension of a youth’s driver’s license. Continued non-compliance of a court order can lead to an extension of the length of supervision. 

Extension Orders

Formal court orders can be extended by a judge for up to an additional year if the youth has not completed the requirement of their court-ordered supervision, additional illegal behaviors, or unsuccessfully completed court-ordered treatment needs.

Placements

Out-of-home placements may occur if the juvenile cannot be safely monitored in the community. Placements may include a like kin home, foster home, group home, residential care centers, alternative to corrections program, or juvenile corrections. A judge can only order an out-of-home placement and the length of placement vary. Placements are typically used as a last resort when all other community options are attempted, or the youth cannot be safely monitored in the community.