When your child is accused of a crime, a probation officer will need to decide what is to be done with your child while he/she awaits trial. The probation officer may decide to let the child go home with you or if he/she will be locked up. Even if your child is allowed to return home with you, the case may be sent to the district attorney who can then choose to file a petition or not to have you child sent to juvenile hall. This will depend on many things such as the severity of the crime as well are your child’s past criminal history.

If your child remains in lock up at juvenile hall, there will be a petition filed by the district attorney within 2 days after your child’s arrest. Your child will then have a detention hearing on the next available court day. At this hearing, it will be decided if your child must stay in juvenile hall until the next hearing or possibly until the entire case against your child is over.