Gwinnett County Juvenile Court has exclusive jurisdiction over children under 17 years of age that are alleged to be delinquent or have committed a traffic offense and children under 18 years of age alleged to be unruly, abused, or neglected. The Juvenile Court has jurisdiction over special proceedings concerning consents for abortion without parental notification, consents for marriage of minors, permanent guardianships, and terminations of parental rights. The Superior Court also transfers cases or portions of cases to Juvenile Court involving child custody and child support. The Honorable Robert V. Rodatus, Honorable Stephen E. Franzen, and the Honorable Robert L. Waller are the Gwinnett County Juvenile Court Judges. Judge Rodatus is the presiding judge and serves as the department head. Gwinnett County Magistrate Judge Valeria Head serves as an Associate Juvenile Court Judge and Juvenile Court Traffic Judge. The court's divisions are Judicial, Administration, and Court Services, which administer and oversee the daily operation of the Juvenile Clerk's Office, Probation/Programs Department, Intake Division, Guardian ad litem Office, and CASA. The court has 145 citizen volunteers hearing panel reviews and youth diversion cases and advocate volunteers with CASA. The roles of the different departments within the Juvenile Court are: - The Intake Division screens all unruly and delinquent complaints referred to the court and reviews any allegation of deprivation brought to the court. These officers also perform home studies for deprivation cases and custody disputes. When police charge a child with a delinquent or unruly act, an intake officer must decide if the child should be held in detention or released to his parents. Similar decisions are made regarding the placement of children who are alleged to be deprived. Since law enforcement can need an intake decision at any time, one of the court's intake officers is on call in Gwinnett County 24 hours a day. The Intake division oversees the Youth Diversion Program, Informal Adjustments, and the Truancy Intervention Program
- Juvenile Court's Guardian ad litem Office was established in 1993 to protect the rights of children referred to the court as deprived. Georgia law mandates that a guardian ad litem be appointed for juveniles in all deprivation cases and, in Gwinnett County, these guardians are six attorneys with extensive experience in juvenile law. Supported by three case coordinators and a legal secretary, the attorneys in the Guardian's Office represent all children referred to the court as neglected or abused
- The Gwinnett CASA program uses volunteers supervised by our CASA coordinator to act as child advocates on deprivation cases. These child advocates work with the families and DFACS to assure the court that every effort is being made by the families and DFACS to follow the orders and recommendations of the court so that the child can be safe in their placement or at home
- The Probation Unit has the responsibility of ensuring that children placed on probation by the Court abide by the rules of probation, pay restitution as ordered, and complete programs and community service assignments. Probation officers meet regularly with the juveniles and their families in office, home, and school visits; counsel them concerning problems and developmental needs; and set consequences for misbehavior. When problems arise that cannot be handled informally, the probation officers initiate revocation proceedings that return the children to the courtroom
- The Programs Unit develops programs for children under court supervision, responding to the needs perceived in the courtrooms and in probation contacts. Facilitators from the community teach many of these programs. This unit oversees the 15 different programs/classes the court provides to children under the court's supervision
2010 Authorized Strength: 61 Operating Budget: 2010 Budget Appropriations
General Fund: $ 5,847,327 |
