Office of Juvenile Court

Skagit County Office of Juvenile Court, Court Services

Court Services is comprised of the following parts:

Truancy

The Truancy Court Program is the process of seeking Court intervention to address school truancy issues. School Districts initiate this process by filing a petition. This may result in Court intervention and eventual confinement if a youth is found to be in contempt of the Court's efforts to remedy the truancy issues.

At Risk Youth (ARY)

The At Risk Youth Court Program is the process of seeking Court intervention to address problems with running away, substance abuse, or behavior beyond the parents' control that endangers the health, safety, or welfare of the youth or another person. Parents initiate this process by filing a petition. This may result in Court intervention and eventual confinement if a youth is found to be in contempt of the Court's efforts to remedy the behavior that makes the youth at risk. The goal of this program is not to confine youth but to eliminate and/or treat the at risk behavior.

ARY information and forms.

 

Child in Need of Services (CHINS)

The Child In Need of Services Court Program is the process of seeking Court intervention to address problems with running away, and substance abuse and/or behavior beyond the parents' control that endangers the health, safety, or welfare of the youth or another person. Another basis for filing a CHINS Petition is when the youth is in need of necessary services but either lacks access to or declines to use such services. A parent, child, or the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) may initiate this process by filing a petition. This may result in Court intervention and eventual confinement if a youth is found to be in contempt of the Court's efforts to remedy the behavior that makes the youth in need of services. The goal of this program is not to confine youth but to eliminate and/or treat the at risk behavior. A primary difference between ARY and CHINS is that CHINS involves seeking an out of home placement. ARY is designed to assist parents while the youth continues to reside in the home. 

CHINS information and forms.

Diversion

The Diversion Program is the process of responding to and dealing with a criminal referral, without going through Court. The types of crimes and history of the youth determine eligibility for this program. The program itself provides both rehabilitative services and punitive terms, thereby addressing statutory issues of restitution, rehabilitation and accountability.

Court

The Offender Court Program is the process of responding to and dealing with a criminal referral by going through Court. The result of the process, most often, will result in the youth being assigned to Probation Services. Court interventions involving rehabilitative services and accountability are rarely implemented until after a conviction and being referred to Probation Services. Release conditions are usually set, pending a trial date, to insure appearance for future Court dates and to minimize further criminal behavior pending the outcome of the case.