What is the process called when a juvenile is referred to court for a serious crime?

The process when a juvenile is referred to court for a serious crime is known as "intake." This is the stage where a juvenile court evaluates the case to determine whether there is enough evidence to proceed with formal charges. During intake, the court or juvenile probation officer assesses the circumstances of the offense, the juvenile's background, and any risk factors involved. The goal is to decide whether the case should be formally prosecuted, diverted to another program, or closed without further action.

Understanding intake is crucial because it lays the groundwork for how the case will be handled moving forward. It is a pivotal moment in the juvenile justice process where decisions about the juvenile's future begin to take shape. The options related to adjudication and disposition refer to stages that occur later in the process; adjudication is the legal process of resolving a dispute or deciding the guilt of a juvenile, while disposition involves the actual sentencing or consequences following that adjudication. A petition is typically a formal written request submitted to the court, but it is not synonymous with the intake process itself.