VOCABULARY

ADJUDICATE  TO HEAR AND SETTLE A CASE BY JUDICIAL PROCEDURE

ADJUDICATION  THE STEP IN FORMAL COURT PROCESSING IN WHICH THE JUDGE HEARS THE FACTS OF A CASE AND DETERMINES IF A MINOR HAS COMMITTED A DELINQUENT ACT. THIS STEP IS SIMILAR TO A TRIAL IN AN ADULT COURT.

AGGRAVATING FACTORS  EVENTS OR CIRCUMSTANCES THAT WOULD MAKE A MORE PUNITIVE OR HARSHER RESPONSE MORE APPROPRIATE.

DELINQUENCY  CONDUCT BY A MINOR THAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED CRIMINAL IF COMMITTED BY AN ADULT.

DELINQUENCY COURT  A JUVENILE COURT RESPONSIBLE FOR RULING ON ISSUES OF JUVENILE MISCONDUCT THAT VIOLATES THE LAW.

DEPENDENCY  THE PERIOD DURING WHICH A MINOR IS DECLARED A WARD OF THE COURT FOR CARE AND PROTECTION IN CASES OF ABUSE OR NEGLECT.

DETENTION  THE ABILITY OF PROFESSIONALS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT OR THE COURTS TO MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON THEIR PERSONAL JUDGMENT ABOUT A SITUATION.

DISPOSITION  A HEARING IN WHICH A JUDGE DECIDES ON THE APPROPRIATE SANCTION FOR A YOUTH WHO HAS BEEN ADJUDICATED (JUDGED) DELINQUENT. THIS STEP IS SIMILAR TO A SENTENCING HEARING IN AN ADULT COURT.

DIVERSION  WHEN JUVENILES ARE PROVIDED WITH ALTERNATIVES TO FORMAL COURT PROCESSING.

IMMEDIATE SANCTIONS  EFFORTS TO HOLD YOUTH ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS AND, IF NECESSARY, PROVIDE NEEDED SERVICES, SUCH AS DRUG OR ALCOHOL COUNSELING. SUCH SANCTIONS ARE OFTEN PART OF A PROGRAM THAT DIVERTS YOUTH FROM THE JUVENILE COURT.

INTAKE  THE PERIOD OF TIME BETWEEN REFERRAL TO PROGATION AND FORMAL COURT PROCESSING.

INTERMEDIATE SANCTIONS  PROGRAMS THAT HOLD YOUTH ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS THROUGH MORE RESTRICTIVE AND INTENSIVE INTERVENTIONS—SUCH AS INTENSIVE SUPERVISION, DAY TREATMENT, PROBATION, ELECTRONIC MONITORING AND ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS.

MITAGATING FACTORS  EVENTS OR CIRCUMSTANCES THAT WOULD MAKE A LESS PUNITIVE RESPONSE APPROPRIATE.

PLEA BARGAIN  A NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PROSECUTION AND THE DEFENSE THAT THE DEFENDANT AGREES TO.

RESIDENTIAL PLACEMENT  THE MOST SERIOUS SANCTION THAT CAN BE IMPOSED BY A JUVENILE COURT, WHICH REQUIRES PLACEMENT OUT OF THE HOME IN A COURT-SUPERVISED FACILITY.

RESILIENCY  THE CAPACITY OF JUVENILES TO SUCCESSFULLY OVERCOME NEGATIVE FACTORS AND STRESSES THAT OTHERWISE MIGHT LEAD TO OUTCOMES SUCH AS DELINQUENCY.

RISK ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENT  A CHECKLIST USED BY PROBATION OFFICERS TO HELP THEM MAKE DETENTION OR PLACEMENT DECISIONS THAT ARE CONSISTENT AND OBJECTIVE.

WAIVER  A DECISION TO TRY A JUVENILE IN THE ADULT CRIMINAL COURT SYSTEM.

WARD  A YOUTH WHO HAS BEEN PLACED UNDER THE DIRECT SUPERVISION OF THE COURTS, EITHER IN THE YOUTH’S HOME OR IN ANOTHER PLACEMENT.