Law Office of Michael L. Fell
900 Roosevelt Irvine, CA 92620
(949) 585-9055

Everything You Need to Know About Juvenile Probation in California

Juvenile probation allows a juvenile certain freedoms while also being monitored. When it comes to the juvenile criminal justice system, probation may be the best possible outcome to a case. To find out for sure what your child’s best options are, contact Law Office of Michael L. Fell at (949) 585-9055 now for a free legal consultation. Otherwise, keep reading to learn more about what juvenile probation entails.

What Exactly is Juvenile Probation?

Put simply, probation is a program in which the child is supervised and certain freedoms and activities are limited or restricted. According to a study by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, probation is by far the most common disposition in a juvenile case. In fact, about 50% of juveniles who are judged to be delinquent will receive probation as the restrictive part of their sentence.

What probation will involve will vary based on the specific jurisdiction and the case. You can count on a juvenile being responsible for obeying the general terms of probation and requirements that are tailored for their specific cases. The court will expect that the parent or guardian of the child help ensure that these conditions are met.

Examples of additional requirements include community service, school attendance, counseling, and a curfew. It is also often the case that the juvenile is not permitted to spend time with specific individuals. Some juveniles will also be required to attend day treatment programs such as substance abuse classes, anger management education, and others.

What to Expect from a Juvenile Probation Officer

When a juvenile is on probation, they will be assigned a probation officer. Generally, they will meet with the juvenile on a regular basis. This may be set up weekly, twice a month, etc. depending on various factors. The parent or guardian of the juvenile is also required to report any probation violations to the probation officer. The hope is that the parents and the probation officer can work together to help the juvenile successfully complete probation.

What to Expect in the Event of a Probation Violation

If your child is suspected of having violated a condition of their parole, the probation officer will notify the court. This generally involves filling out a notice of “Violation of Probation.” The judge will consider the case and if they find that the youth did violate their terms, then the judge will decide on the consequences. They could include revoking probation and incarcerating the youth, adding conditions to the probation, or a simple warning.

If you have a child who has been accused of a crime or is on probation, it is wise to have access to an experienced juvenile crimes attorney. Attorney Fell is standing by at (949) 585-9055 to provide a free legal consultation.