A Detective Sergeant and four Detectives are assigned to the Youth Bureau. Their primary duties are to investigate juvenile and missing person cases. The goal of Youth Court is to intervene in early anti-social, delinquent, and criminal behavior to reduce the incidence and prevent the escalation of such behavior. Youth Court strives to promote feelings of high self esteem, a desire for self improvement and to foster a healthy attitude toward rules and authority.
All individuals are under the age of eighteen.
An adult serves as the Court Coordinator. Whether there is a determination of guilt or admission of guilt, the offender must complete the sentence imposed by the jury, in addition, the offender must sit as a juror in at least one, and possibly several other cases. Cases are generally referred by judges, police and probation departments to the Coordinator who accepts cases meeting established criteria. Typical cases that may be heard in Youth Court include shoplifting, criminal mischief, larceny, and vandalism. The judge or jury may determine the question of guilt or innocence.