Ongoing Delinquency

• What is the Role of the Ongoing Social Worker?
• What is the Role of the Parents?
• What are the Expectations of a Juvenile Delinquency Court Order?
• What Happens When a Juvenile Does Not Comply with His/Her Court Order?

What is the Role of the Ongoing Social Worker?

Once the dispositional court hearing has been held, the delinquency case is transferred from the delinquency intake social worker to a delinquency ongoing social worker. The goal of the ongoing social worker is to assist a young person and his/her family to successfully complete the conditions of the delinquency court order or the Consent Decree. Typically, the ongoing social worker will send a letter to the family requesting them to set up an appointment time to meet each other, review the court order and discuss any concerns or questions they may have about being under juvenile court supervision.

The level of involvement, frequency of contact and types of service depend on the seriousness of the offense, the level of risk the youth presents to re-offend, what has been court ordered and the needs of the juvenile and family.

What is the Role of the Parents?

It is the obligation of the juvenile and his/her parent(s) to maintain regular contact with the assigned social worker, notify the social worker of any changes in address or phone number and sign release of information forms when information from school or treatment providers is needed for case planning or monitoring progress.

A young person has the best chance to successfully complete court ordered obligations when they have the full support and assistance of his/her parent(s). Things parents can do to help include: schedule necessary appointments in a timely fashion, attend appointments with their child when required, provide or arrange transportation to appointments, be involved with their child's education by checking on attendance and academic progress and being aware of the child's friends, activities and whereabouts.

What are the Expectations of a Juvenile Delinquency Court Order?

The standard rules of supervision in a juvenile court order include: regular school attendance, no alcohol or illegal drugs; follow the rules of parents, social worker and school; no further law violations; notify the social worker of any police contacts and cooperate with U.A.'s as requested. In addition, most juveniles are ordered to participate in services to address their unlawful behavior and/or individualized treatment needs. Some examples of these services are: anger management counseling, individual and/or family therapy, AODA evaluation and treatment if recommended, intensive community supervision (school checks, curfew checks, groups and one to one and family meetings) and/or sex offender treatment.

Some juveniles have court ordered restitution or community service. Restitution compensates the victim directly for loss or damage resulting from the offense. Community service is a way for the juvenile offender to give back to the community. There is an expectation that the youth, with assistance from his/her parent(s), will seek employment or arrange for community service as soon as possible after the court order date. The Youth Restitution Program (YRP) of Youth Services of Southern Wisconsin also provides assistance and support to the juvenile toward the goal of timely completion of this responsibility to the victim and/or community. In Dane County, the District Attorney's Office will file a Petition for Civil Judgment Against Juvenile/Parent for Unpaid Restitution if court ordered restitution is not paid while the youth is under Juvenile Court jurisdiction.

If a juvenile completes the court ordered obligations, has no new law violations resulting in charges and is generally doing O.K. in the community, at school and in the home, the court order is allowed to expire on the date the court ordered.

What Happens When a Juvenile Does Not Comply with His/Her Court Order?

If the juvenile is not complying with his/her court order, the social worker may consider the use of sanctions with the goal of getting the youth on a more positive track. Generally, if a juvenile is not responding to consequences imposed by parents, school or a community supervision program, the social worker will refer a juvenile to the Weekend Report Center at Neighborhood Intervention Program. If that is not effective in turning things around, the social worker may request a court hearing so the Judge can impose court ordered sanctions, which could be time in Detention or Shelter Home, electronic monitoring, community service or loss of driver's license.

The social worker must make a decision about requesting an extension of the court order approximately 60 days before the order expires. If the juvenile's non compliance is continuing, it is likely the social worker will request the court to extend the order. This requires a court hearing. Options include extending the order with no changes, requesting a revision of the order to include additional services or requesting a change of placement to a foster home, group home or possibly a residential care center or even Corrections. Decisions to place a child are not taken lightly and a court hearing must be held anytime a placement involves removing a child from the parental or guardian home. Once a child is placed out of home, the court must also approve any changes in placement, whether to a different placement or back to the parental home. State statute requires parents to pay child support for the period of time their child is in placement.

If the juvenile's behaviors are putting his/her own safety or that of the community at risk, the social worker, with input from the family and others, may consider placement at a residential care center (RCC) or Corrections as the best option. These placements must first be reviewed and approved by the Administrative Review Board and then the court. Youth who have a mental health diagnosis and are at risk for institutional placement (RCC, Corrections or psychiatric hospital) may also be found eligible by the Administrative Review Board for Children Come First. Children Come First is a wraparound program that provides intensive case management and individualized services with the goal of stabilizing and then treating a youth with serious mental health and behavioral problems in the community.