THE JUVENILE COURT
The Smith County Juvenile Court Room at the Juvenile Attention Center is operated under the direction of the Juvenile Judge.
COURT AND COMMUNITY SERVICE
The Court and Community Service Unit consists of:
- The Director
- Deputy Director of Probation
- Administrative Assistant
- Administrative Secretary
- Probation Officer Supervisor
- 19 certified Juvenile Probation Officers
- Case Aides
- Curfew Checker
- Data Management Unit Supervisor
- 3 Data Management Specialists
- Compliance Manager
- Volunteer Coordinator
- 2 Community Service Coordinators
The probation division is responsible for supervising juveniles on probation and referring the child and the family to agencies in the community in order to help meet their needs. Probation Officers are responsible for conducting initial interviews with the child and their parents, and, if necessary taking the child through the court process. The Probation Officer is an extension of the Juvenile Court and is responsible for completing social investigations, preparing reports for and testifying in Court. They are also responsible for supervising the child following court action on a voluntary basis if no court action is taken.
As a supervisor, the Probation Officer monitors the child’s progress or lack of progress in an area such as the home, school, and place of employment. The supervision and monitoring is to enforce the conditions of probation and to assess the needs of the child. A confidential record is kept of all significant events regarding each case. The Probation Officers participate in a 24 hour on-call rotation to answer emergency calls from law enforcement, parents and children.
DETENTION SERVICES
The Detention Services are located in a 65-bed facility serving a wide range of troubled juveniles. A full-time staff of Juvenile Detention Officers provides 24-hour care. The full time staff consists of:
- The Facility Administrator
- Detention Manager
- 3 Detention Supervisors
- 4 Training Officers
- Intensive Resource Coordinator
- Detention Officers who work directly with the residents.
The Detention Program provides temporary services for juveniles who are awaiting a court hearing and are unable to return home. The program is designed to aid the child in becoming more secure, learning discipline habits, following rules, and better understanding socially acceptable behavior. This is accomplished through daily learning activities, chores, and guidelines that each person is expected to follow. Juveniles are monitored constantly and are provided daily feedback through a behavioral level system which determines what privileges (i.e.: day-room, phone calls, etc.) are earned each day. The average length of stay is approximately two weeks.
Other activities, afforded to the program include: academic studies provided by teachers, volunteer groups offering learning, recreational and religious activities, mentors, and staff implemented activities in physical fitness and life skills.