| Vote Recommendation | Economic Freedom | Property Rights | Personal Responsibility | Limited Government | Individual Liberty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Positive | Neutral |
This bill would establish an alternative to adjudication for
certain juvenile offenders. If this bill passes, and if a person is conducting
a preliminary investigation that finds that it is appropriate to refer the
child to a resource coordination group, or a local-level interagency staffing
group, or some other community juvenile service provider, the person may do so.
To qualify for these services as an alternative to adjudication, the child must
be younger than 12 years old, and there must be probable cause to establish
that the child engaged in unlawful behavior, or some behavior that warrants
supervision. In addition, the delinquent behavior must be eligible for deferred
prosecution, and there would have to be a determination made that the child or
the child’s family would benefit from receiving these services.
This bill would also add a section to the family code related to services
provided to certain children and families. If passed, upon referral from a
person conducting a preliminary investigation, a community juvenile services
provider, or a community resource coordination group, or a local-level interagency
staffing group may evaluate the child’s case and make recommendations on the
appropriate services for the child and their family. The probation officer
would be required to create and coordinate a service plan for this child and
the child’s family, and the family must consent to the services. The probation
officer would be allowed to hold the child’s case open for three months to
monitor adherence to the service plan, and they would have the authority to
adjust the plan as necessary.
Finally, this bill would require the juvenile board to establish policies for
the diversion program, and would seek to limit the detention of children younger than 12 years old.