The Case flow diagram describes the stages of delinquency case processing in the juvenile justice system. Consequently, any description of juvenile justice processing must be general, outlining a common series of decision points. Usually, law enforcement makes this decision, after talking to the victim, the juvenile, and the parents, and after reviewing the juvenile's prior contacts with the juvenile justice system. Thirty percent of all juveniles arrested in 1992 were handled within the police department and then released. Two-thirds of arrested juveniles were referred to juvenile court.
Federal regulations discourage holding juveniles in adult jails and lockups.
If law enforcement must detain a juvenile in secure custody for a brief period in order to contact a parent or guardian or to arrange transportation to a juvenile detention facility, Federal regulations require that the juvenile be securely detained for no longer than 6 hours and in an area that is not within sight or sound of adult inmates. The remaining referrals were made by others such as parents, victims, schools, and probation officers. At this point intake must decide either to dismiss the case, handle the matter informally, or request formal intervention by the juvenile court. To make this decision, an intake officer first reviews the facts of the case to determine if there is sufficient evidence to prove the allegation. If there is not, the case is dismissed.