Juvenile Delinquency | Maricopa County Superior Courts

Have questions? Contact us at juveniledept@jbazmc.maricopa.gov or call (602) 506-4533.

What is a Delinquency?

An "incorrigible" youth is one who is truant, runaway, refuses to obey a parent or guardian, violates curfew or smokes cigarettes. ARS § 8-201.

A "delinquent" youth is one who, if he/she was an adult, could be charged with any crime listed in Title 13 of the Arizona Revised Statutes. ARS § 8-201.

Youth (under the age of 18) who are alleged to have committed an offense in Maricopa County will have the case heard before the Juvenile Department. Juvenile cases are adjudicated with the ultimate goal of rehabilitating a youthful offender to become a productive member of society while ensuring the public is safe. Many offenders may be eligible for diversion programs, which may include consequences such as community service, letters of apology, or classes.

Temporarily Detained Juveniles

When a juvenile is picked up and taken into, temporary custody, they must appear before a judicial officer within twenty-four hours, unless released. Detention hearings are held 365 days a year, including weekends and holidays. During the regular work week, these hearings are held at 1:30 pm at the Durango Juvenile Court Center. On weekends and federal holidays, these hearings are held virtually on Court Connect at 1:00 pm. Please contact the Juvenile Department at (602) 506-4533 for more information on attending these hearings.

Victims

“Statement of Rights – If you are the victim of a delinquent act with a case pending before this court, you are advised that you have rights to justice and due process under Arizona law that, among others, include the right to be treated with fairness, respect and dignity, to a speedy disposition and a prompt and final conclusion of the case, to be present at court proceedings, to choose whether or not to be interviewed by the juvenile's attorney, to be heard before the court makes a decision on release, negotiation of a plea, scheduling and disposition and to seek restitution from a person who is adjudicated as causing your loss. If you have not already been provided with a written statement of all victims' rights, please contact the victim services division of the prosecutor's office.”

If you are a victim of a crime committed by a person under the age of 18, you will receive victim notification letters from the Juvenile Probation Department's Victims’ Services Unit. If you would like to receive notifications about the case, assistance regarding the court process, or victim advocacy, please call the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, Victim Services Division at (602) 506-8522.

STRENGTH Court exists to provide a coordinated, multidisciplinary, and person-centered response to youth in the child welfare or delinquency systems who have been sex trafficked. STRENGTH stands for “succeed through resilience – empower new growth through hope.” STRENGTH Court values youth voice and is voluntary. Youth speak directly with a Judicial Officer, and a multi-disciplinary team supports the youth in reaching their goals.

Healthy Boundaries Court is a collaborative court for youth charged with sexual offenses. This means the youth’s treatment provider, judge, probation officer, prosecutor, and the youth’s attorney work together to help guide the youth, as they make progress in treatment. The goal of the program is to assist the youth family in healing and recovery from the incidents that led to court involvement. Healthy Boundaries Court uses rewards and consequences during the program to assist youth and their family in meeting personal and treatment goals. Healthy Boundaries Court hearings are held at regular intervals during treatment and after care. Hearings are typically held every 60 to 90 days. Victims are welcome but not required to attend Healthy Boundaries Court hearings.

The mission of Project SAFE (Safety Awareness & Firearms Education) is to educate young people on the risks and consequences of gun possession, empowering them to make informed, responsible choices that prevent gun violence, reduce crime, and enhance public safety. Participation in the program consists of three main parts for youth to complete, including participation in an interactive learning module on gun safety, attending in-person sessions with victims of gun violence and people with lived experience, and a final youth presentation for the youth to show how they have applied their learning. Project S.A.F.E. encourages youth to take responsibility for their choices and past mistakes, learn from these experiences, and look forward to a healthy, hopeful future free from further involvement in the justice system.

Competency and Restoration

By Arizona statute, when a delinquency petition is filed with the court claiming a juvenile committed criminal behavior, it is the Court’s responsibility to ensure the juvenile understands the Court process, as well as their role within the process. The Restoration Program was designed to educate youth about the court process so they can assist their attorney in their own defense.

Project Restore

Having a juvenile record can have lifelong consequences, but there is relief available for destruction of juvenile records, restoration of rights, or to have an offense set aside. The process can be complex, but there are tools to help you figure out if you may be eligible and what steps are needed if you are. Project Restore hosts an annual in-person event to make this process available to the public. There are also options to file a request to the court through electronic filing or paper filing at the courthouse.

Project Restore seeks to:

Provide access to justice for adult citizens who have aged out of the juvenile justice system to make the application process to restore rights or destroy juvenile records accessible. Project Restore makes the restoration of rights process accessible to eligible individuals. The process is complex and may otherwise deter eligible citizens from applying.
Improve the lives of citizens who have changed their lives since being involved in the juvenile justice system. Restoring rights and destroying juvenile records can help citizens overcome barriers related to housing, employment, and education.
Build upon the community to inform the public and increase knowledge of the process. The community efforts, in conjunction with the court and government entities, has been a key factor in the program’s success. Efforts continue in the community to support Project Restore outside of the events, ensuring accessible knowledge and information is available to a wide audience.

Do you have a juvenile delinquency record in Maricopa County?

You might be eligible for: