Glossary of Terms
Adjudicatory Hearing - A formal fact finding by the court to determines a juveniles innocence or guilt of crimes alleged in a petition.
Allegation - A single charge on a police report
Child - A person under 18 years of age within the jurisdiction of the juvenile court as provided in ORS 419B.100; a dependent person.
Community Service - Unpaid work as a consequence to repay the community for inappropriate behavior.
Conditional Release - An agreement between a juvenile and juvenile department to be released from detention on certain conditions pending a hearing
Delinquent - A juvenile who has been adjudicated for committing a delinquent act
Delinquent Conduct - Any behavior by a juvenile which would be considered a crime if committed by an adult. This includes any violation of local, state or federal law or ordinance. Failure to obey a lawful order of the juvenile court is also delinquent conduct
Dependent - An abused or neglected child, or a child in need of proper parental care and control who has no parent or guardian willing and able to exercise care and control
Detention - The temporary care of a juvenile who requires secure custody in a locked facility for the protection of the community and/or juvenile, or to ensure that the juvenile appears in court
Dismissal - The cessation of court proceedings through voiding the filed petition
Disposition - A formal judgment of the juvenile court in electing what to do after the juvenile has been adjudicated (the judicial finding that a juvenile is delinquent or dependent)
Diversion - An option for handling a case outside the jurisdiction and services of the Juvenile Court
Electronic Surveillance - An event where a small monitoring device is attached to a juvenile’s ankle that generates a daily computer report of the youth’s whereabouts via telephone lines or satellite
Formal Accountability Agreement - A voluntary agreement between a juvenile and juvenile department whereby the juvenile agrees to fulfill certain conditions in exchange for not having a petition filed against them
JJIS - Juvenile Justice Information System – electronic data system co-managed by the Oregon Youth Authority and county juvenile departments of Oregon
Jurisdiction - Parental authority of a juvenile or child assumed by the court based on adjudication or dependency needs
Jurisdiction Only - Authority assumed by the court on violations. There is no incarceration time associated with this status
Juvenile - (1) A person under the age of 18, particularly one alleged to have committed an act that is a violation, or that if done by an adult would constitute a violation, of a law or ordinance of the United States or of a state, county or city. (2) Counts as a case in reports
Oregon Youth Authority (OYA) - The state agency responsible for management and administration of youth correctional facilities, state youth parole and probation services and community out-of-home placements for adjudicated youth offenders
Petition - Formal allegation(s) of dependency or acts of delinquency filed with the clerk of the juvenile court to begin the formal adjudication process
Polygraph - A lie-detector test
Probation - A disposition by the juvenile court whereby the juvenile is placed under the supervision of a probation officer who oversees the compliance with court ordered conditions, The juvenile remains in the community instead of being incarcerated
Probation Officer - A Juvenile Department employee with the authority of a peace officer while performing his court-related duties. These duties include evaluating juvenile complaints (arrests) to decide whether to request filing of a petition, supervising juveniles, and monitoring compliance with conditions of probation or formal accountability agreements
Restitution - Full, partial or nominal payment of monetary damages to a victim; can be court-ordered or agreed upon between parties
Referral - A written complaint by law enforcement official detailing the arrest of a juvenile for an alleged violation of the law or commission of a status offense. A referral may have multiple reasons
Risk Factors - Elements that increase the likelihood of delinquency or other problematic adolescent behavior.
Status Offender - A youth who commits an act that is an offense solely by virtue of his age
Youth Correctional Facility - State Institution operated by the Oregon Youth Authority where committed juveniles are incarcerated. Includes: Hillcrest, Maclaren, Rogue Valley, Oak Creek. Warrenton, and Eastern Oregon Youth Correctional Facility
Youth Offender - A person at least 12 and under 18 years of age found to be within the jurisdiction of the juvenile court under ORS 419C.005; a delinquent person
Youth Services Team - A group of service providers meeting jointly to discuss information about youth and families and determine the most appropriate prevention/intervention strategy for a youth and family. May include mental health counselors, alcohol and drug services providers, school counselors and juvenile department staff
