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Juvenile Courts are responsible for handling court related matters for individuals under the age of 18. The three types of hearings this court processes are: Dependency cases, Delinquency (felony and misdemeanor) cases, and Juvenile Traffic matters. Most juvenile proceedings are confidential matters and are inaccessible to anyone other than the parties involved in the case. A juvenile record is not sealed automatically upon reaching the age of eighteen. To have a juvenile record sealed, an individual at age 18 may petition the Court through the Juvenile Probation Department requesting that their juvenile record be sealed. Juvenile records are retained by the Court for approximately 25 years after a minor reaches age 18. An individual may petition the court for a copy of their Juvenile court record at any time during that 25 year retention period.
The statutory law that governs Juvenile matters are covered in sections 300 (Dependency) and 602 (Delinquency) of the Welfare and Institution Codes.
Dependency matters are for children who have been abandoned, abused or neglected by someone, or parents that are unable or unwilling to care for the child. This type of case could result in foster care, a guardianship being established or the child being adopted by a caring family. For information regarding CASA (Court Appointed Child Advocates), please refer to the 'Related Links' page. Dependency hearings are typically heard in Superior Court Juvenile Dependency Court, Department 15, in the Modesto Main Courthouse, 800 11th Street, Modesto, CA.
Delinquency matters are misdemeanor or felony matters committed by an individual under the age of 18. The law currently provides, in some instances, the possibility of the juvenile being tried as an adult in the Superior Court. Delinquency hearings are typically heard in Superior Court Departments 17 and 18 at the Juvenile Court Branch at 2215 Blue Gum Avenue, Modesto, CA.
For Juvenile Traffic matters, please see the Traffic Overview page. The Traffic Overview page contains information specifically pertaining to Juvenile Traffic matters.
A Juvenile Traffic Citation could be issued for moving violations, equipment violations (fix-it-tickets), bike or pedestrian citations and some Fish and Game Codes. Juvenile citations require a mandatory appearance, which means the juvenile must appear with a parent in court on the date reflected on the lower portion of the citation. If a continuance is needed for the court date reflected on the citation, the minor must contact the Juvenile Clerk's Office in person to request a new date.
Filings for Juvenile Dependency matters are typically filed at the Juvenile Dependency Court Clerk’s Window inside the Modesto Main Courthouse, located at 1100 I Street, Modesto, CA. This window is located within the Family Law Division Lobby. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Filings for Juvenile Delinquency matters are typically filed at the Stanislaus County Juvenile Branch Court located at 2215 Blue Gum Avenue, Modesto, CA. This office is located west of the intersection of Carpenter Road and Blue Gum Avenue. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Court is in session Monday through Friday for both Dependency and Delinquency matters. Traffic matters are handled on Wednesdays. You may check in for juvenile traffic matters at 8:00 am or 9:30 am. You may contact the Clerk's Office by calling our auto attendant at (209) 530-3100. Please listen carefully to select the correct office.
You can also visit the Self-Help Center at the California Courts website at www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp/.
THE INFORMATION POSTED ON THIS WEB SITE IS NOT INTENDED TO CONSTITUTE LEGAL ADVICE OR TO TAKE THE PLACE OF THE ASSISTANCE OF COMPETENT LEGAL COUNSEL. YOU SHOULD SPEAK TO AN ATTORNEY OF YOUR CHOICE FOR SPECIFIC INFORMATION ABOUT THE FACTS OF YOUR CASE AND YOUR RIGHTS. |