APPLICATION OF RESTORATIVE JUSTICE:
We provide fair and responsive treatment for victims of juvenile crime in a manner that affirms victims experience while addressing offender rehabilitation.
SERVICE TO THE COURT:
We serve the Court and execute its orders in a partnership involving the youth, family, probation officer, victim and community.
PARTNERSHIPS:
We partner with families, communities, and organizations to seek solutions to juvenile crime.
INDIVIDUAL STRENGTH-FOCUSED APPROACH:
We implement probation strategies which support a youth's successful functioning in the community as well as personal accountability for injury caused; assist youth to recognize their value and identify personal strengths through interventions which build assets and increase capabilities; and help families support their children in overcoming barriers to growth and responsible behavior.
RESPECT:
We act with sensitivity to racial, ethnic, cultural, familial, and offense diversity; provide services in a professional and ethical manner; and demonstrate appreciation and respect for all employees, recognizing that our mission is more important than role distinction.
EXCELLENCE:
We strive for excellence in service delivery by implementing evidence-based practices that are creative, flexible, innovative, technologically refined, and measured.
Services are provided to juveniles under the authority of the Tarrant County Juvenile Board, which has designated the 323rd State District Court to serve as the Juvenile Court. The current presiding judge of the Juvenile Court is Judge Jean Boyd. Three associate judges assist Judge Boyd: Judge Tim Menikos, Judge Ellen Smith and Judge Kim Brown.
By statute, Tarrant County Juvenile Services is the agency designated to receive law enforcement reports of law violations defined either as delinquent conduct or conduct indicating a need for supervision allegedly committed by juveniles (children ages 10 through 16).
Delinquent conduct includes Class A & B misdemeanors as well as felony-grade offenses. Conduct indicating a need for supervision includes Class C misdemeanors transferred from a justice or municipal court and include public intoxication, truancy, running away, inhalant abuse, and violation of school disciplinary codes that result in expulsion.
Services performed include screening and diversion of cases to community resources, presenting objective reports to the the court for use at disposition, executing court-ordered treatment and supervision, administering community corrections programs, securing alternative placement and administering collection of court-ordered probation fees and Tarrant County Juvenile Services has developed programs and operations with the goal of diverting youth from the juvenile justice system at the earliest appropriate point. The Juvenile Court endorses this belief by striving to identify the least restrictive environment for the care and rehabilitation of children while assuring community safety. To this end, Tarrant County Juvenile Services has developed a range of community and home-based programs as additional options in solving the problem of juvenile crime. Juvenile Services has the ability to offer a diverse continuum of services to youth and families of Tarrant County.
