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| Case Filed |
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CASE FILED IN DISTRICT COURT
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| When the District Attorney files charges against a child, a probation
officer initiates a court investigation. A conference is held with the parents,
guardians and others involved with the child. After a detailed assessment
of the child's behavior, home, school and social relationships, the Officer
writes a predisposition report that is considered by the judge at the time
of the disposition hearing. Several hearings take place prior to the disposition
hearing. |
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FIRST APPEARANCE
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| Once charges have been filed against the child, the case is set for a
first appearance in court. The child is expected to appear on the specified
date with his parents and an attorney. The law requires that the child be
represented by an attorney as cited in the Texas Family Code §51.10.
If the parents have not retained an attorney, but are making an honest effort
to retain one, the District Attorney will likely pass the case for a period
of approximately two weeks in order for the parents to retain an attorney. |
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ANNOUNCEMENT HEARING
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| Two or three weeks following the first appearance the case is set for
an announcement hearing. During this appearance the defense attorney and
the prosecutor will discuss the state's recommendation to the court. If
an agreement between two sides is reached, a plea of true will be entered
and a hearing will be set before the court within two weeks. Several announcement
hearings may be conducted before reaching an agreement. If an agreement
can not be made the hearing will be set for a trial, before either the judge
or a jury. |
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ADJUDICATION
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| In a court proceeding called an adjudication hearing, the juvenile accused
of the crime, the juvenile's family and attorney appear before a judge or
jury that will decide if the juvenile committed a delinquent act or conduct
indicating a need for supervision. If a court finds that a person has engaged
in delinquent conduct or conduct indicating a need for supervision, then
the court must set a date and time for a separate disposition hearing. |
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DISPOSITION
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At the disposition hearing, the court may place the juvenile on varying
levels of probation, place the juvenile in a private, state or local residential
facility, or commit the offender to the Texas
Youth Commission.
For certain serious offenses, the juvenile court also has the option
of allowing the use of determinate sentencing. The determinate sentencing
law allows a juvenile to be confined up to forty years. The first part
of the sentence would be served in a Texas Youth Commission facility,
followed by an optional court transfer to state prison. At the disposition
hearing, the juvenile court may order the child and/or his parents or
guardians to perform community service and/or pay restitution to the victim.
Victims have the right to provide pertinent information about the impact
of the offense on the victim and the victim's family.
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RELEASE PROCEEDINGS
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| At any time during placement, a juvenile may be eligible for release.
This may be as a result of the juvenile's compliance with all court-ordered
conditions, or an administrative decision to release the juvenile. Upon
request, victims have the right to be notified when the juvenile is being
considered for release. |
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APPEALS
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| A juvenile has the right to appeal court decisions. The victim has the
right to be informed of the status of the appeal process in the event that
the juvenile determines to exercise that right. |
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THREATS
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| If a victim is subjected to threats or intimidation, contact your local
law enforcement agency. |
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| EXCERPTS, WHEN
A CHILD BREAKS THE LAW IN TEXAS BY TEXAS JUVENILE PROBATION COMMISSION. |
