Marion County Juvenile Justice System
Marion County's Juvenile Department works hard to implement what are known as "evidence-based practices" to address youth behaviors. Our goal is to not only hold youth accountable for their actions, but also to help redirect your towards positive outcomes.
Roughly 1,400 youth are referred to Marion County's Juvenile Department each year. While most are referred by local police departments throughout the county, younger youth can be referred by nonprofits, schools, and parents to the department's Family Support Program. Youth referred to the Juvenile Department are mostly boys, although there are a growing number of girls. While most youth are 14-18, the Family Support Program sees youth as young as age 9.
Youth are referred for crimes or violations through a police report, or physically brought by police to detention for the most serious crimes. Criminal offenses range from criminal mischief to occasionally murder. Violations, however, are for behaviors that would not apply to adults, such as being out after curfew, running away from home, or tobacco, alcohol, or marijuana possession.
Juvenile Justice System Documents
Juvenile Crime Prevention Plan 2023-25
Juvenile Crime Prevention Plan 2019-21
Juvenile Crime Prevention Plan 2017-19
Juvenile Dept. Flow Charts 2015
