Office of the Clerk

The Clerk of the Juvenile Court, Robin Austin, oversees a staff consisting of a Receptionist, an Assistant Clerk, and eight Deputy Clerks who perform a wide variety of important duties. The Clerk's office has the responsibility for the maintenance of all juvenile records. All cases coming into the Court are processed through the Clerk's office and files are forwarded to the appropriate department.

The Clerk's office is responsible for recording all traffic citations, complaints, petitions, motions and orders filed in the Juvenile Court. The tasks of typing delinquent and unruly petitions, assigning court appointed attorneys, scheduling hearings, issuing summons, notifying attorneys, scheduling interpreters, preparing calendars and recording case dispositions are also the responsibility of the Clerk's Office. In 2011, 3,174 complaints were filed, 1,867 petitions were processed, 4,394 hearings were scheduled, and 4,120 dispositions were entered.

The Clerk is responsible for the receipt and disbursement of monies for all court-ordered payments. These payments include restitution, child support, translator reimbursement, traffic fines, attorney fees, publication fees, copy fees and supervision fees.

The Clerk's office prepares records when cases are transferred to another court and prepares transcripts for appeals as required.

The confidentiality of Juvenile Court records is maintained through this office. The Clerk's office holds the responsibility for the sealing of juvenile records when ordered to do so by the Court. The Clerk's office oversees the maintenance of or the destruction of court records as provided by law.

Intake Section

The Intake Section of the Juvenile Court is responsible for receiving referrals from law enforcement officers, parents, school officials, and private citizens on children alleged to be delinquent, unruly, deprived, or who have been cited for a traffic violation. Intake Operations is served by an intake supervisor who is responsible for a staff of three full-time court officers, two part-time juvenile court officers, and an Intake Assistant.

Balanced and Restorative Justice (BARJ) Division

DIVERSION AND COURT ALTERNATIVE SERVICES
Informal adjustments and diversion programs are appropriate for complaints filed by law enforcement or other individuals in which the juvenile is alleged to have committed a delinquent act which is not of a serious nature, or has been alleged to have committed an unruly act, but appears to be amenable to informal handling. Program data for 2011, indicates there were over 600 cases referred for informal processing and screening and more than 200 informal contracts were initiated and monitored for a period 90-180 days.

The Screening Process
Delinquent and unruly complaints referred to Diversion Services are screened towards first seeking an informal adjustment of the matter where it is in the best interest of the child and the community. The juvenile complaint is examined to determine if the child is eligible for an informal adjustment/diversion, and/or mediation based on the totality of the child's circumstances, which may include, but are not limited to, age at the time of offense, nature of the delinquent act, ability of parents to correct the child, resources available in the community to provide treatment without need for formal court supervision, parent's ability to provide treatment for their own child, correction or discipline already provided by the parent and/or school system, the remorse of the child and parent's understanding of child's need for correction, and to avoid overburdening the juvenile court and probation with cases that can be handled informally. After contemplating the above mentioned factors, the child's disposition may result in a decision to recommend dismissal, to make a referral to another agency for services, to informally adjust the case, to file a petition, or to take other appropriate action.

Meeting the Criteria
In order to qualify for an informal adjustment the following must take place: the admitted facts must bring the child within the jurisdiction of the court, it must be determined that counsel and advice without an adjudication would be in the best interest of the public and the child, the child and the child's parents, guardians, or other custodian must consent to the informal adjustment with knowledge that consent is not obligatory, and if the child is alleged to have committed a designated felony act as defined in O.C.G.A. §15-11-63, the case shall not be subject to informal adjustment, counsel, or advice without the prior written notification of the district attorney or his or her authorized representative.

Informal Adjustment Agreement
If it is determined that the child shall be placed on an informal adjustment agreement, the agreement will be monitored by a juvenile court officer for a period not to exceed three months from the day of the informal hearing at which the counsel and advice was commenced. The court may extend the informal contract for a period not to exceed an additional three months. Conditions of the informal adjustment agreement may include but are not limited to: letters of apology, essays, reports, study log, volunteer work with a community service organization, counseling (e.g., individual, group, anger management, grief and loss, substance abuse), random alcohol/drug screening, parent/child participation in a court sponsored program and/or activity, supervision fee, ankle monitor, curfew, and house confinement. Failure to comply with the agreement may result in the filing of a petition on the complaint.

PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICES
The Program Services staff coordinates programming that is delivered to youth who come to the attention of the Juvenile Court. Youth on probation, as well as, those who are supervised under an informal contract are referred to these programs by their supervising court officers. First-time offenders are sometimes given an opportunity to have their charge dismissed by completing a program or workshop.

Through a cooperative agreement entered into by the school system, local police departments, other interested agencies and the Juvenile Court, School Resource Officers can refer students to the Conflict Resolution Workshop for certain "focused acts" without filing a complaint for the delinquent act. The goal is to expose the students to information that can help them avoid further conflict. In addition, school principals can use the first two outreach programs listed below as an alternative to out of school suspension.

Most programs offered by the Juvenile Court require parental participation, which empowers the parent to reinforce the information at home, thereby increasing the court's effectiveness with their children. The first three programs listed below are open to the public and parents can bring their children at their discretion.

The goal of the Programs Unit is to develop quality programming that is both cost effective and specific to the needs of the children. The providers for these services include both court personnel and community agencies.

How Quality is defined:

• Meeting the need of Juveniles, their families;
• Being based in research with proven effectiveness;
• Validating results of our programs through multiple and accurate evalutions; and
• Communicating effectively with other agencies and partners in the community.

Our guiding principles:

• Making a positive difference in the lives of the juveniles we serve;
• Being partners with the school district, communities and families we serve;
• Achieving measurable results from programs we use on behalf of the court;
• Ensuring that every programs team member has a great place to work by fostering a culture of professionalism and respect; and
• Building our future on sound programming management practices and striving for excellence in every aspect of our work.

OUTREACH PROGRAMS
The three programs listed below are available to the general public.

Project HIP: is a collaborative effort between Hearts to Nourish Hope, the Riverdale Police Department, and the Juvenile Court. This program gives youth a true picture of prison and gang life as told by young adults, provides interactive panels for parents and teens with school personnel, law enforcement and community service providers as well as offers opportunities for making community connections to resources that may be helpful for participants and their families. This program is held one Wednesday a month from 6:30 to 8:30 pm.

Conflict Resolution: addresses problem solving and conflict resolution strategies whether the conflict is in a classroom, at home, or results from an on-going emotional issue. This program includes a real-life simulation exercise that promotes positive resolution of issues, working collaboratively to solicit responses and solutions, and teaches skills that can be applied in other settings. This program is held one Thursday a month from 6:30 to 8:00 pm.

Girls Talk: Provides a place where girls ages 14-17 can talk to girls their own age about the issues facing young women today, receive support and advice from professionals and have fun. This program takes place at Hearts to Nourish Hope on Tuesdays from 6:30-7:30 pm.

The programs listed below are available to Court involved youth ONLY via a referral from the assigned probation officer:

Introduction to Juvenile Court: All juveniles placed on probation are ordered to attend this program with parent(s). It is a one-time session lasting for up to an hour and thirty minutes that reviews juvenile court terminology, the juvenile court process, terms and conditions of probation, sealing a juvenile record and much more. This program is held one Tuesday a month from 7:00 up to 8:30pm.

Baby Think it Over: A computerized doll, resembling a human infant, is programmed to mirror the needs of a real baby showing teens what parenting is really like. During the two to three day parenting simulation period, the teen is responsible for recording the feeding, diapering, rocking, burping and other care-givers responsibilities. The internal computer records data about the teen's performance and summarizes the data in a simple assessment of care provided to the probation officer.

Evening Reporting Center (ERC): An alternative to detention for juveniles who violate probation or are awaiting adjudication. Probationers meet five days a week from 4p.m. to 8 p.m. at the center. The ERC staff transports the child to and from the program.

Law Related Education Series: Increases students' knowledge of the law, explains the purpose of the Juvenile Court, distinguishes between the consequences for the different levels of offenses under the law and describes how juveniles' lives can be affected by the charges they receive. This is done in collaboration with the District Attorney's Office and the Clayton County Public Schools.

Second Chance Court: Meets every Tuesday evening from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. in the courtroom of Judge Steven Teske. For those youth with alcohol and drug issues there is a drug and alcohol counseling component that takes place every Monday evening for those in phases 1 and 2 of the program. In addition, there is family group therapy on Tuesdays after 2nd Chance Court from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. and a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy class on Thursday evenings. Second Chance Court is an alternative to designated felony sentencing a youth for up to 60 months of restrictive custody at a Youth Development Campus. Participants are court ordered to this program.

Personal Space: An eight hour Saturday workshop requiring youth and their parents to participate in discussions that explore personal boundaries, effective communication, and making good choices.

Choices: Meets for four consecutive evenings (M-Th) from 6:30 pm-8:30 pm and addresses making good choices and issues associated with the use of illegal substances. Appropriate for families with any of their members struggling with these issues.

Theft Prevention Workshop: An eight hour Saturday workshop requiring youth and their parents to participate in discussions that explore the reasons for and the consequences of stealing as well as effective communication and making good choices.

MEDIATION SERVICES (ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION)
Alternative Dispute Resolution is a term that describes a number of processes used to resolve disputes as an alternative to formal processing of complaints. These informal processes include negotiation, conciliation, mediation and arbitration. ADR processes provide a less formal, less adversarial and less expensive method of addressing disputes. Courts have increasingly utilized these methods as tools to alleviate crowded calendars.

In the fall of 1986, the Juvenile Court of Clayton County implemented the Mediation Program. This action was taken to supplement the court's existing restitution effort. That program later evolved into Alternative Dispute Resolution. The program employs a full-time program coordinator, a full-time juvenile court officer, and a part-time program assistant. Mediators used in the program are selected from the community with various backgrounds, are registered with the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution, and have completed a juvenile mediation training course.

In 2011, there were over 350 cases assigned to ADR for screening and processing. Of those cases, more than 200 youth were monitored for a period of 90-180 days. ADR's goal is to assist the youth in successfully closing his or her case while providing education about the law and promoting accountability and restoration to the victim.

What is Mediation?
Mediation is an informal process in which the parties involved are empowered to resolve their own differences with the assistance of a neutral third party, the mediator. Mediation is a voluntary process as the parties voluntarily agree to work together to resolve their differences. The parties may solicit legal representation, but it is neither necessary nor mandatory in this setting. The main focus of mediation is not to prove guilt or innocence, but rather to address the charge, identify the conflict, clear up any misunderstandings, and attain a resolution that is workable for all parties involved. Furthermore, mediation creates a forum for accountability and provides the respondent with an educational awareness about the law as it relates to juveniles. Mediation opens the door to bridge and nurture broken relationships while creating new alliances.

What is the Process?
Complaints received at the Juvenile Court are screened through the Intake Division of the court and forwarded to the ADR Unit for mediation. In most instances, the cases involve property damage, loss of property, or school and family related issues. The program also mediates grandparent petitions and deprivation issues as ordered by the judge. Once a case has been identified as appropriate for mediation, the victim is contacted and invited, but never coerced, to seek a mediated solution. If the victim agrees, a mediation hearing is scheduled.

First, the goal of each session is to produce an agreement that is acceptable to all parties. During the mediation hearing the juvenile is encouraged to be accountable for his/her actions. Secondly, the objective is for the juvenile to gain a perspective that will assist in altering his/her thought process, thus preventing him/her from reoffending. The juvenile and the victim also participate in a "brainstorming" process facilitated by the mediator to determine possible resolutions. In many cases, the agreement will consist of restitution to the victim and participation of the youth in a workshop provided by the court to address the behavior. Failure to comply with the terms of the agreement may result in the matter being set for a formal court hearing presided over by a judge.

The mediation program has successfully addressed shoplifting cases involving merchants in the community and property damage cases involving private citizens. In addition, the mediation program has been effective in handling school-related offenses and neighborhood conflicts. Other means of addressing juvenile complaints includes Peace Making Circles and Redemption Hearings.

JUVENILE DETENTION ALTERNATIVES INITIATIVE
The Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI) is a 20-year-old project of the Annie E. Casey Foundation (AECF). According to AECF's website, "JDAI is one of the nation's most effective, influential, and widespread juvenile justice reform initiatives." JDAI is primarily focused on the use of detention by the juvenile justice system; over the past three decades, a large body of research has documented the dangers of using detention inappropriately. AECF contends that "youth are often unnecessarily or inappropriately detained at great expense, with long-lasting negative consequences for both public safety and youth development." For more information on JDAI, please visit The JDAI Help Desk.

Clayton County became a JDAI replication site in 2003, as a response to the tremendous stress on our juvenile justice system. Extremely high referral rates, primarily a result of minor school offenses, led to all-time-high probation caseloads and recidivism rates. Graduation rates were also at an all-time low. Since 2002, our JDAI programs have had a profound impact on outcomes for youth involved with Clayton County Juvenile Court:

• The average daily population in detention has decreased by 62%;
• The average daily population of youth-of-color in detention has decreased by more than 57%;
• Detained youth now spend 36% less time in detention pending disposition (translating to a little over one week less than in 2002);
• We commit 25% fewer juveniles to the Department of Juvenile Justice;
• We commit 47% fewer minorities to the Department of Juvenile Justice;
• Only 1% of juveniles released on detention alternatives are re-arrested before disposition; and
• Juvenile petition filings have decreased by nearly 63% (2011 JDAI Annual Results Report).

Our JDAI Coordinator manages two of the most prominent JDAI programs in Clayton County, the award-winning Finding Alternatives for Safety and Treatment Panel (FAST Panel), and the Clayton County Collaborative Child Study Team (Quad-C ST).

FAST Panel
The FAST Panel is a multi-disciplinary detention review committee that meets every Monday, Wednesday and Friday to review the cases of youth who have been detained. The objective of the panel is to identify resources that might enable the youth to be safely released from detention pending the final disposition of the youth's case. The panel is made up of trained community volunteers, community-based service providers, probation officers, and agency representatives of our collaborative partners. For more information on becoming a FAST Panel volunteer, please contact our JDAI Coordinator, Shannon Howard, at (770) 473-5977 or email him.

Quad-C ST
The Quad-C ST is another multi-disciplinary panel of community-based service providers and the agency representatives of our collaborative partners that serves as a single point-of-entry for access to available resources. Partnering with the Clayton County Board of Education's System of Care, the Quad-C ST staffs the cases of students exhibiting at-risk behaviors with the goal of providing services that might prevent the student from formal involvement in the juvenile justice system.

Probation Section

The Probation Section of the court is divided into two types of functional units, Court Operations and Field Operations. In 2011, the probation section processed approximately 54 cases each month; of those, 70% were placed under an order of probation or supervision, most of whom were determined to be at a moderate- or high-risk for reoffense. The remainder of the cases presented a low-risk for reoffense and were dismissed, held in abeyance or placed under a suspended order of probation.

Court Operations
The Court Operations Unit consists of a supervisor, three juvenile court officers, and one part-time juvenile court officer.  The unit's primary function is conducting pre-disposition investigation and preparing social history reports for the disposition of delinquency and unruly cases that have come before the court for formal processing.  In addition to investigating and writing reports, the unit also supervises youth who have been conditionally released or otherwise placed under supervision orders pending the final disposition of their cases.  During 2011, the Court Operations Unit had 416 cases assigned to its members.

Field Operations
There are two Field Operations unit, each led by a supervisor who supervises six juvenile court officers.  Field officers conduct risk classification and needs assessment and write an individualized treatment plan for all youth placed on an order of probation using the Juvenile Assessment and Risk Instrument System (JARIS).  Field officers also provide ongoing supervision to those youth placed on an order of probation or supervision by the court.

In 2007, the Field Operations units moved to a school-based probation program is cooperation with Clayton County Public Schools; there is now a field officer assigned to each middle and high school in the system.  Research has shown that school-based probation allows for more frequent and better quality contacts that result in closer and more effective supervision of probated youth in addition to improved academic performance.

Field officers use a system of graduated responses (sanctions) to ensure compliance with court-ordered conditions and treatment-plan goals.  Sanctions range from verbal warnings to formal violations of probation that may result in detention, based on the severity, nature and frequency of the violation, relative to the risk-level of the probationer.  If it is determined that all appropriate community-based treatment options have been exhausted, the probation officer may recommend commitment to the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ).  In 2011, 3,310 counts of delinquency  and unruliness were filed against 2,134 children, and only 145 were committed to DJJ.

In addition to monitoring compliance, field officers coordinate rehabilitative and treatment services for probationers and their families.  These services are based on the needs identified by the child's JARIS.  Field officers evaluate the juvenile's progress toward achieving his or her probation goals and recommend termination of probation at the appropriate time.

In 2011, 873 juveniles were assigned to Field Operations; the average probation caseload was 16, consisting mostly of moderate- or high-risk offenders. Field officers initiated 3,870 face-to-face contacts with these offenders, most of which occurred in the juvenile's community. Field officers also participated in 11,318 collateral contacts, which consist of an array of educational, community service, treatment and family contacts.