Douglas J. Flanagan                                                                    Margaret Tutt-Adams
Juvenile Court Judge                                                          Chief Probation Officer/Manager

 

Juvenile Court Staff: (left to right) William Hickmon, Kari Poss, Margaret Adams (Chief, Office Manager), Kimberly Hunter, Judge D. Flanagan, Rodney Brown, Deborah Hatcher, Cashandra Middleton, Terry Rutledge, Jennifer Prince

  Juvenile Court is the primary agency for the judicial functions relating to persons under the age of seventeen years. The Court is required to receive and dispose of complaints in a manner that is in the best interest of the child and the community. Complaints are received from the Sheriffs Department, Board of Education and the community. Charges may be disposed of by Dismissal, Informal Probation, Formal Probation or placing the youth in custody of the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice.

 The Court receives and disposes of all traffic citations issued to a person under the age of seventeen and hear cases referred by the Department of Family and Children Services. Those cases referred by the Department of Family and Children Services are reviewed for progress by the Citizen Panel for foster Care Review under the jurisdiction of Juvenile Court.

The Court provides an opportunity for accountability and rehabilitation through a variety of programs, such as Mediation, MY SPACE  Course, Juvenile and Family Firesetters/Arson/Explosive Intervention Program, Anger Management, Decision Making, Character Education, Adolescent Safe Passage, Substance Abuse and Life Skills Program, Truancy Reduction Program, Prevention and Diversion, Traffic Intervention Program (T.I.P), and Community Services. Juvenile Court also provides a Families Interchanging with a Purpose Program, which is 10 weeks in duration and is designed to empower the youth and their parents with more effective communication skills. The Juvenile Court system continues to seek ways to expand it services.

 **New Victim Rights Phamphlet  <----  Click on the link for latest Victim Rights info. 

2010 brought a new program to Juvenile Court; the program entitled "Transitioning from Elementary School into Middle School: Choices and Consequences"  was presented by Judge Doug Flanagan and staff from Juvenile Court.  They talk to the 5th graders about Choices and Consequences and the responsibilities that they will have in Middle School. 

Transitioning from Elementary to Middle School     

**powerpoint presentation 

                                                                

NEW INFORMATION from Juvenile Court

Effective January 1, 2007, new teen drivers must adhere to the updated laws, known as "Joshua's Law". Below is the link for information:

 

http://www.gateendrivereducation.dds.ga.gov

 

Judge Flanagan and staff from the Juvenile Court spoke to students at every Columbia County High School. The purpose was to enlighten all students of the process and procedures of juvenile court and Choices and Consequences.  Hopefully, through this presentation, students would be empowered to make wise decisions.

Provided below is a link to view the presentation:

Choices and Consequences Presentation (powerpoint presentation)

                             

JUVENILE COURT: HOW IT WORKS

Who are the People in Juvenile Court?

1. Judge: The judge hears cases and decides questions of law in court.

2. State’s Attorney: Usually the District Attorney (the "D.A." or "Prosecutor") is the one accusing the juvenile.

3. Defense Attorney: This person’s job is to ask for what the juvenile wants. For example, he or she may help the juvenile get out of detention, or avoid having to pay a fine.

4. The Guardian ad Litem (sometimes): When a child has been abused or neglected, sometimes the child has a guardian ad litem (GAL). The GAL asks for what is "in the child's best interest, for example, staying with grandma instead of mom.

5. Probation Officer or Social Worker (DCFS): This person is responsible for a juvenile's case, to make sure the juvenile gets the treatment they need, and to make sure they fulfill their community service hours or other court orders.

6. Clerks: Sit in court and record everything that people say.

7. Bailiffs: These are usually county sheriff deputies. A juvenile could get in trouble with the bailiff if they are rude to the judge.

IF A JUVENILE RECEIVES A TRAFFIC

CITATION

**Call the Juvenile Court office at 706-868-3320 to find out when their court date will be. The juvenile and parent will receive a notice to appear for traffic court in the mail approximately 3 weeks before their court appearance. A parent must accompany the juvenile to court on this date. If the juvenile is found guilty of the traffic violation, he/she may have to pay a fine, supervision fee, attend T.I.P (Traffic Intervention Program), suspension of drivers license, and enroll in the STOPPED program (this is through the Sheriff's Office). The Judge may impose more or less sanctions depending on the charge and circumstances.

Juvenile Court is implementing a new program P.R.I.D.E. (Parents Reducing Incidents of Driver Error) in conjunction with the T.I.P. community service, which will include the parent and juvenile to attend.

Below is the link for more information:

http://extension.caes.uga.edu/gtipi/templates/classes.htm

Guest Speaker was Alan Brown, the father of Joshua Brown.

June 30th, 2007- GTIPI provided the rollover simulator to the T.I.P. Class

Contact us at: (706) 868-3320 Office, (706) 868-3325 Fax
Mailing Address: P.O.Box 1954, Evans, Georgia 30809
Physical Address: 640 Ronald Reagan Drive,
Courthouse Annex, Evans, Georgia 30809