Juvenile Delinquency Court

Juvenile Delinquency Court is located at 3650 Graham Hill Road, Santa Cruz, CA, 95018. The Juvenile Delinquency Court is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., except for Court holidays.

The mission of the Juvenile Delinquency Court is to provide a fair and impartial forum for the resolution of juvenile delinquency proceedings consistent with the child’s best interests, to protect the public, and to provide services that address the needs of the child and the family.

The Juvenile Delinquency Court is a court of limited jurisdiction that hears cases involving allegations of delinquent conduct by minors under the age of 18 years. The Juvenile Delinquency Court also has jurisdiction over status offenses, which are offenses that would not be crimes if committed by an adult, such as truancy and curfew violations.

The Juvenile Delinquency Court is presided over by a judge who is appointed by the Governor of California. The Judge is assisted by a court commissioner or referee, who is also appointed by the Governor. Commissioners and referees have the same authority as the judge to hear and decide cases.

The Juvenile Delinquency Court has several programs and services available to help minors and their families. These programs and services include:

-Restorative justice program

-Therapeutic courtroom

-Drug treatment court

-Community based probation

-Family reunification services

-Other services available through the Santa Cruz County Department of Social Services.

If you are a minor or the parent or guardian of a minor who is accused of committing a crime, or if you are a minor who has been charged with a status offense, you should speak to an attorney to find out what your rights are and how the Juvenile Delinquency Court process works.