Juvenile Justice Definitions

Juvenile

Youth between the ages of 10 and 18. 

Delinquent Act

A crime committed by a juvenile ages 10-17 which gives the juvenile court jurisdiction over the alleged act. This is comparable to criminal charges in an Adult Court.

Accountability

The responsibility the juvenile has for repairing the harm caused by the crime they committed.

Intake Investigation/Social History

Gathering of information on the juvenile by a probation officer to allow for appropriate recommendations to the Judge. This will include family history, school records, prior criminal history, mental health diagnoses, and/or any drug and alcohol use.

YLS Assessment

Cumberland County utilizes the YLS which is a valid and reliable risk instrument that assesses risk for recidivism by measuring 42 risk/need factors within eight domains. The calculated risk score helps identify who should receive juvenile justice interventions and treatment, while the domains identify what criminogenic needs must be addressed with the youth. Additionally, the responsivity portion of the tool highlights how treatment should be delivered.

Child Trauma Screen (CTS)

Like mental health issues, trauma exposure is not a criminogenic factor to consider when assessing risk to recidivate. However, research has identified the link between such exposure and future delinquent behavior. Trauma exposure, therefore, is considered a responsivity factor that may impact the ability of youth to adequately respond to the intervention(s) necessary to address identified criminogenic risk/need factors. The Child Trauma Screen (CTS), a 10-item screening measure of trauma exposure and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms for youth ages 6-17, has been endorsed by Pennsylvania stakeholders as the preferred trauma screening tool for juvenile probation departments.

Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument Version 2 (MAYSI-2)

Although mental health issues are not a criminogenic factor to consider when assessing a youth’s risk to recidivate, they are considered a responsivity factor that may impact the youth’s ability to adequately respond to intervention(s) necessary to address criminogenic risk/need factors. In recognition of this, Cumberland County has adopted the Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument Version 2 (MAYSI-2).

Pennsylvania Detention Risk Assessment Instrument (PaDRAI)  

Pennsylvania is moving towards implementing additional screening tools that will increase data informed decision-making at critical decision points throughout the system. The decision to place a youth in a secure detention center represents one of the most important decisions of juvenile court processing and one of the most significant events in a youth’s life. The Pennsylvania Detention Risk Assessment Instrument (PaDRAI) is a concise, structured decision-making instrument used to assist in the critical decision of whether to securely detain a youth, release to an alternative to detention (ATD), or release to the custody of a parent or responsible adult during the period that the youth is awaiting a juvenile court hearing. The instrument is designed to assess the risk of a youth to 1) commit additional offenses while awaiting the juvenile court hearing; and/or 2) fail to appear for the scheduled juvenile court hearing.

Disposition

A final determination made by the court after an adjudication of delinquency or any determination that ceases juvenile court action on a case. Below is a list of possible dispositions

Allegation withdrawn- Requires that a petition be filed and a court order which dismisses the allegation. 

Allegation dismissed- Does not require that a petition be filed and does not require a court order.

Youth Aid Panel- A decision is made to divert an allegation at intake for community intervention by placing the juvenile into the Youth Aid Panel Program. All referrals will be reviewed and approved by the Juvenile Probation Department Supervisor. A period of Youth Aid Panel involvement is 3-6 months. 

Referral to another agency- A decision is made to refer a case at intake to another social service agency, which will be approved by a Juvenile Probation Department Supervisor. 

Informal Adjustment- A period of informal supervision for 6-9 months which does not require a court hearing. The juvenile and their parent/guardian must agree to accept the probation without a hearing. The juvenile may be referred for community based treatment and counseling under the terms of the informal adjustment. 

Consent Decree- Requires that a petition be filed and a court appearance which places the juvenile on a period of supervision for 6 months which may be extended up to 12 months by order of the court. Under the terms of the consent decree, the juvenile is eligible for all community-based treatment programs. A juvenile who successfully completes a consent decree will have no record of an adjudication of delinquency. 

Formal Probation- Requires the filing of a petition and a court order at which time the court finds the juvenile to be in need of treatment, supervision, and rehabilitation and places the juvenile on probation for a period of 1 year.

Placement- Requires the filing of a petition and a court appearance in which the court finds the juvenile to be in need of treatment, supervision, and rehabilitation and commits the juvenile to an appropriate facility.

Expungement- The removal of a juvenile's criminal and court record.

Diversion

Pre-adjudication diversion for all youth can occur at various decision-making points in the juvenile justice system. It can provide alternatives for youth who have not yet entered the juvenile justice system but who are at imminent risk of being charged with a delinquent act. It can occur after a youth has been charged with a crime and referred to the juvenile justice system, but prior to petition to court for formal proceedings. Finally, it can also occur after the filing of a petition but prior to a formal adjudication of delinquency. Examples of pre-adjudication diversion programs may include services available at the law enforcement level, various types of community accountability boards such as youth aid panels and peer courts, summary offense alternative adjudication programs, informal adjustment, and consent decree dispositions.

Adjudication of Delinquency

The formal verdict by the Juvenile Court Judge that says the juvenile is in need of treatment, supervision, and rehabilitation. This is comparable to a finding of guilt in an Adult Court.

Case Plan

Case plans are blueprints that provide structure and direction for youth, families, and juvenile probation officers throughout the term of juvenile court supervision. Individualized case plans match assessment results, such as the YLS, to services aimed at improving the youth’s competencies and reducing recidivism.

Community Based

Services or counseling that juveniles can complete while still living with their parent/guardian in the community.

Community Service

Work completed by juveniles without pay that contribute positively to the community. 

Detention

A temporary holding facility for juveniles while they await a hearing for a Delinquent Act or a Violation of Probation.

Placement

Juveniles who require intensive supervision and/or more concentrated therapeutic services can be Court Ordered to be removed from their home and placed into an Out-of-Home Placement to assist in meeting their needs.

Restitution

Money owed to a victim due to the damage caused by a criminal offense.

Violation of Probation

Actions of a juvenile under supervision of the Court that negatively impact progress.  This could include a positive drug test, breaking curfew, not attending counseling, etc. 

Family Involvement 

Behavioral change efforts must include a youth’s family and other key adults engaged in the youth’s support system because they will assist in supporting and supervising the youth during probation (including helping the youth move through needed restorative actions, such as repairing harm to the victim, learning accountability, and developing competencies) and after completion of court involvement.

Graduated Responses 

A graduated response system uses incentives and sanctions to foster the pro-social behavior of juvenile justice-involved youth, promote accountability, restore victims, and decrease recidivism. Through a structured process that accounts for a youth's level of risk, needs, and responsivity, graduated responses recognize and reinforce positive behaviors and provide proportional responses to negative behaviors to improve short- and long-term outcomes. Responses are certain, swift, targeted, proportionate, and fair.

Cognitive Behavioral Interventions (CBI)

Cognitive behavioral interventions (CBI), delivered primarily in group settings, restructure problematic thinking patterns and attitudes, teaching youth to monitor their patterns of automatic thoughts in situations that could lead to antisocial behavior. Research indicates that Cognitive behavioral interventions significantly impact delinquent behavior and recidivism among youth. Cumberland County CBI activities include NCTI/Crossroads, Thinking for a Change (T4C), Forward Thinking (The Change Companies).

 Effective Practices in Community Supervision (EPICS) 

The Effective Practices in Community Supervision (EPICS) model, developed by the University of Cincinnati Corrections Institute, uses targeted face-to-face interactions to provide youth with a sufficient “dosage” of treatment interventions and develop a collaborative working relationship. The EPICS model strives to fully utilize the time that officers spend with youth and ensure youth receive a consistent message throughout the continuum of supervision.

Skill Building and Tools 

Juvenile probation officers serve as “agents of change” and use skill building and tool focused activities to help youth build competencies. Primary skill building and tool focused activities are the Four Core Competencies (4CC), Carey Guides, Brief Intervention Tools (BITS), and the Supervisor's Evidence-Based Practices BriefCASE. Skill practice involves observing others, practicing new behaviors, receiving feedback on the practiced behaviors, and applying the behaviors in real-life situations.