Juvenile FAQ

To search and connect to support in our community, check out findhelpidaho.org. You can search by location and program categories to find financial assistance, food pantries, medical care and other free or reduced cost help.

If you are having trouble finding resources, The Bridge Youth and Family Resource Center may be able to help.  The Bridge works to keep youth out of the juvenile justice system by connecting families to supportive services in the community. Through in-depth assessment and evidence-based screening tools, center staff collaborate with youth and families to understand factors contributing to concerning behaviors and connect them to the resources and services they need.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. The 988-dialing code operates through the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline to connect you to a trained crisis counselor 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  website: Idaho’s Behavioral Health Crisis Line

The court system starts with law enforcement. A police officer has a few options when a youth is accused of or seen violating the law:

• Warn the youth – The youth is released to a parent, guardian or relative and no formal action is taken.
• Issue a citation/ticket – This may involve a fine and/or a court appearance depending on the violation.
• Refer the case to the prosecutor’s office for review –The prosecutor will review the police report and decide whether to offer a diversion program or file a petition with the court.
• Take a youth to detention – If a youth is arrested and brought to juvenile detention, the charges are referred to the prosecutor for a decision on next steps.

A status offense is an act/behavior that is only considered a crime for youth under 18 and is not a criminal offense for an adult. Examples include skipping school (truancy), running away from home, being “beyond control” of parents, and curfew violations. In Idaho, youth may not be placed in juvenile detention for a status offense.

Alcohol and tobacco citations (tickets) are generally handled at Ada County’s Main Courthouse at 200 W Front Street in Boise. If your child receives a citation, they must appear at the Main Courthouse sometime during the date range noted at the bottom of the citation. At the Court Clerk’s counter, a clerk will assign a court date and inform them of next steps. You do not have to be with them for this initial visit, but you must attend future court hearings with them.

In some cases when an alcohol/tobacco citation is received in connection with other charges, they may be handled by Juvenile Court.  The clerk will inform you if this is the case. Contact the Ada County Clerk’s Office at (208) 287-6900 (choose option 2) with any additional questions.

When a youth is brought to juvenile detention, the arresting police officer or detention staff attempt to contact their parent or legal guardian as soon as possible.

• If your child is not considered a community safety risk by the arresting officer, they may be released to your custody right away with a “promise to appear” for the court hearing scheduled on the next business day.
• If your child is held in the detention facility, they will have a detention hearing on the next business day, usually scheduled to begin at 1:30 pm. A judge will review the arresting incident and determine whether your child will be released or remain in custody.

Police reports may be requested directly from the law enforcement agency through their Public Records Request (PRR) or Public Information Request (PIR) process (links below).

• Ada County Sheriff’s Office (Includes Eagle, Kuna and Star Police Departments)
• Boise Police Department
• Garden City Police Department
• Meridian Police Department

If the prosecutor finds sufficient evidence that a crime occurred and does not think the youth is a good candidate for the Diversion Program, they may choose to file a petition with the court. If this occurs, the youth and their parent/legal guardian will be summoned to appear in Juvenile Court for an Admit/Deny Hearing. Please see The Court Process for additional information on the types of hearings and decisions involved in a typical juvenile court case.

If a petition with formal charges has been filed with the court and the youth is 14 years of age or older, their file and court hearings are open to the public unless the judge finds that special circumstances should keep the case private.

Different privacy guidelines apply to youth in the Diversion Program. See “Who will know I’m in Diversion?” and “Will my school be notified?” in the Diversion FAQs.

Juvenile charges may be expunged from a youth’s record at the discretion of a judge. This means that the youth’s court records can be sealed from the general public’s access and are only available with a court order. Expungement requires a special court hearing and is generally not considered if the individual committed certain crimes as a juvenile or has a history of violent acts.

A youth who completed juvenile probation may request expungement of their record if:

• It has been 5 years since the case was closed in Juvenile Court;
• It has been 5 years since the individual was released from the State Juvenile Corrections Center; or
• The individual has reached age 18, whichever comes last.

The fourth amendment protects individuals from unreasonable search and seizure by law enforcement and the courts, but a judge may ask youth to sign a fourth amendment waiver as part of probation conditions.  This means that the youth agrees to have their person and property searched and are subject to urinalysis and breathalyzer testing while on probation.