Youth at Risk Program Overview
At Risk Youth Definitions
Overview of Youth At Risk Petition Procedures
At Risk Youth Petitioner Responsibilities
At Risk Youth Contempt Procedures

The purpose of At Risk Youth legislation is to assist and enable parents to gain control of their children and to empower parents to keep their children at home or in an alternative placement of their choice through the use of court intervention. Youth who are demonstrating self destructive or high risk behavior but who are not under the official supervision of the court can, through an "At Risk" petition filed by the parent, be brought under the supervision of the court. Our office provides liaison and case work services for these youth and their families. Youth served through this program are usually 12 to 17 years old, have serious conflict with parents, school and attendance problems, frequently run away from home and may have drug/alcohol issues or be assaultive towards family members.

Youth at Risk Program Overview

The following information is offered to parents as a reference guide concerning questions you may have in regards to the At Risk Program.

To participate in the program, a child needs to meet one of three criteria: serious substance abuse, three days or more of being out of the home without permission, or behavior problems that threaten his/her or others' safety.

Once you have met with me and a petition has been filed, it will take several working days for the petition to be heard in court. Court is held at the Juvenile and Family Services building, 1912 West 18th Street, Port Angeles at 10:00 A.M. on Thursdays. Please be prepared to tell the court what has happened concerning your child. Please write down and bring with you to court your allegations and what your expectations are for your child under At Risk.

If the judge agrees your child is At Risk, it is now your responsibility to monitor his/her behavior, and remind him/her to follow what the court has ordered.

Serious violations of the order are the strength of the program. Any consequences for your child are given by the judge upon being proved to be in violation of his/her At Risk Court Order. The judge decides upon the seriousness of the violation and therefore consequences. This process requires the parent to begin by filing a Contempt form with our office. A notice will be given to the child in person by someone other than the petitioner. A court hearing will be scheduled for the following Thursday, at least five working days after the Contempt is filed. Things take time.

If the violations are severe, the child could be placed in juvenile detention at the time of the court proceeding. If the violation is considered minor, suspended detention time, community service and/or a fine may be imposed. If detention time is suspended, the judge may allow me to impose detention time at my discretion upon the advice of the parent. Only then are there relatively immediate consequences.

Most often, the greatest concern parents have for their children is not being where the parents wish, i.e. not at home or school. It is not against the law for a child to run away or skip school, but it is the law for the police to look for and bring a child home when asked by the parents.

The only time a child will be held in custody by the police, if a runaway, is if the child is a serious safety risk or there is no place to receive the child. This rarely happens.

Under At Risk, the child could be placed in detention only if he/she has been found in contempt and there are days to be served in detention at my discretion. This would have to be done during working hours when I can be contacted.

Many parents are frustrated with the system, and although the At Risk is useful, it can be frustrating. Your child will be assigned a lawyer and events move slowly because of due process. The lawyer will play an adversarial role. Consequences for your child may not be immediate due to the Court process. If your child runs away all we can do is file a Contempt and call the police to have him/her returned home. Unfortunately, under present law, immediate consequences and protection are not always available.

To help your child, we (schools, police, counselor, parents, other children) must be on guard and doing our jobs to the best of our ability.

At Risk Youth Definitions

Purpose of At Risk Youth legislation

To assist and enable parents to gain control of their children and to empower parents to keep their children at home or in an alternative placement of their choice through the use of court intervention.

What is an At Risk Youth?
The law defines an at-risk youth as an individual under the age of eighteen who:

1. is absent from home for more than 72 consecutive hours without the consent of  his or her parents;
2. is beyond the control of his or her parent such that the child's behavior substantially endangers the health, safety or welfare of the child or any other person, or;
3. has a serious substance abuse problem for which there are no pending charges related to the substance abuse.

Characteristics of Families Served
Youth served through this program are usually 12 to 17 years old and have run away and/or been in serious conflict with parents. The most common characteristic of youth served is non-compliance with parental or other authority. Typical conflict stems from a variety of sources which may include but is not limited to: the failure to follow rules, do chores, or attend school; running away as well as the youth's belief that he/she can live where ever they choose; blended family issues, particularly between the youth and step-parent or other partner; drug/alcohol abuse by the child or parents; angry outbursts in which the youth may strike or threaten a parent or sibling; or pregnant teens who are in conflict with their parents, conflict that is often heightened by the addition of a baby in the home.

As a result of changes made in 1990 in the Families in Conflict law, parents of incorrigible youth may request assistance from Juvenile Courts and the State to regain control of a child. DCFS provides crisis intervention in an attempt to resolve the conflict and keep the families together. When crisis intervention is not effective or appropriate, parents may petition the Court to assist them to keep their child at home.

Child´s Residence/Residential Court Order
Provides that the child is to reside in the home of the parent or a placement approved by the parent unless out of home placement is otherwise authorized or required by the law.

Authorizes the Court, upon the request of the parent, to enter a Court Order requiring the child to reside in the home of the parent or a placement approved by the Court.

Review hearings are held within 30, 60 or 90 days. The Court determines the date of the review hearing and the review hearing date is noted on the Court Order. No further notice of the review hearing is sent to the parties.

Court supervision will extend no more than 180 days beyond the At-Risk Dispositional hearing unless the parent provides compelling reasons for extending supervision.

* Procedures for filing an At-Risk Petition as well as Motions for Contempt are listed in separate documents

Overview of Youth At Risk Petition Procedures

The following procedures have been designed to assist the petitioner(s) in filing an At Risk Youth petition. It is requested that the petitioner(s) comply with the following step by step process.

1. An appointment should be made with the Court Liaison by calling 565-2629 Contact person: Joleen Goodrich.
2. The Court Liaison will interview prospective petitioner(s) and youth at the initial intake meeting to evaluate the family circumstances.
3. If it is determined that the prospective petitioner(s) has failed to utilize appropriate and available individual and family counseling resources, the Court Liaison may suggest or recommend that the family take advantage of these services before they seek court intervention. A list of local resources will be provided upon request.
4. An affidavit must be completed and signed by the petitioner(s) stating that they have made an effort to resolve problems through counseling services, etc. or stating why alternatives to court intervention were not acceptable and/or appropriate.
5. The Court Liaison will provide the petitioner(s) with an At Risk Petition. The petitioner(s) must complete and sign the petition. Supporting documentation may be attached.
6. The petitioner(s) must file the petition as well as the affidavit with the Juvenile Court Clerk at Juvenile Services, located at 1912 West 18th Street, Port Angeles, WA 98363
   IMPORTANT: PETITION MUST BE FILED BEFORE 4:30 p.m.
7. Upon filing of an At Risk Petition, the court then appoints an attorney to represent the minor child.
8. The Juvenile Court Clerk then sets the matter for hearing and completes a Notice and Summons reflecting the court date and time. A copy of the At Risk Petition is mailed to the parties involved, along with the Notice and Summons. Attached to these documents is an Advice of Rights, informing the parents of their right to counsel, the legal consequences of the court approving the At Risk Petition and the right of the parent and/or child to present evidence at the hearing.
9. If the Court approves the At Risk Youth Petition, and Order outlining the Court's expectations for the youth and family will be signed by the Judge or Court Commissioner.
10. It will be the responsibility of the petitioner(s) to monitor the youth's compliance with the Court Order (please refer to procedures for filing a contempt motion).
11. It is the responsibility of the petitioner(s) to be present at all hearings. If the petitioner fails to appear at any At Risk hearing the Judge or Court Commissioner may dismiss the petition.

We are available to assist you with any problems you may encounter throughout this process. Please feel free to call the Court Liaison if you need assistance or have any questions regarding the foregoing procedures.

At Risk Youth Petitioner Responsibilities

The following petitioner(s) responsibility list should be read carefully before filing an At Risk Petition. Successful court intervention is directly proportional to the willingness on the part of the petitioner(s) to supervise the Court's order and follow through on all Court order directives. NOTE: The Court may order the petitioner(s) to attend family counseling sessions and/or individual counseling.

1. The petitioner(s) will monitor At Risk Youth Court order directives.
2. The petitioner(s) will notify the Court of a youth's non-compliant behavior by filing a Motion of Contempt with the Court.
3. The petitioner(s) will attend all Court hearings. (review hearings, detention hearings, contempt motion hearings)
4. The petitioner(s) will contact the At Risk Youth court liaison at least twice monthly to report progress.
5. The petitioner(s) will follow through on all Court order directives applicable to the petitioner(s).
6. The petitioner(s) will be responsible for fees assessed for court ordered counseling.
   
   NOTE: The court liaison is available to assist you throughout the At Risk Youth petition process. This means that you are welcome to call me anytime with questions, comments, or, if for no other reason than simply to talk with someone who will listen.

At Risk Youth Contempt Procedures

The following procedures have been designed to assist the petitioner(s) in filing an At Risk Youth Contempt Motion. This procedure should be followed if a violation of the Court's order occurs.

1. Document the violation(s) including details of any law violations and/or runaway referrals reported to law enforcement.
2. Call the At Risk court liaison for an appointment to fill out Contempt motion papers (Supporting documentation should be attached).
3. After completing the Contempt motion and Affidavit, submit documents to the Juvenile Court Clerk at Juvenile Services located at 1912 W. 18th street, Port Angeles, WA.
   NOTE: Please file prior to 4:30 p.m.
4. The Clerk will set the matter before the Court for review of the Motion and Affidavit. Upon filing the Clerk will issue a Notice of Hearing and will schedule the hearing such that the child and his or her attorney can be provided the notice at least five working days prior to the hearing.
5. After the notice is given to the petitioner, a copy of the notice, as well as the Contempt Motion and Affidavit must be served personally on the child. The Clerk will provide a copy to the attorney for the child.
6. The hearing will take place at the time and on the date set forth in the notice.

We are available to assist you with any problems you may encounter throughout this process. Please feel free to call the Court Liaison if you need assistance or have any questions regarding the foregoing procedures.

Contact Juvenile Services with questions or comments about the information on this page