For Parents and Public

Appropriate Courtroom Attire
It is expected that you (families and youth) dress appropriately for court as if you were going to school or a religious service. It is preferred that males wear slacks, a tucked in shirt, belt and dress shoes. Females may wear a dress, skirt or slacks with a shirt/blouse and dress shoes.

• Please do not wear cut off jeans or shorts.
• Please wear pants that fit and are worn at the waist (“Sagging” is NOT permitted)
• Please do not wear T-Shirts or any clothing that bears a violent or offensive message, or any references to drugs, alcohol or tobacco.
• Please do not wear clothing that is ripped or has holes in it. (No exceptions for trends)
• Please wear skirts that are at or below knee length (No shorter than 2 inches above the knee)
• Please do not wear tank tops, tube tops or shirts with spaghetti straps
• Please do not wear tight fitting, spandex, see-through clothing or clothing that exposes the midriff or stomach area
• Please do not wear pajama tops, pajama bottoms or house slippers
• Please do not wear any hats, headgear (such as headbands, or bandanas), or sunglasses in the Courtroom

Appropriate Courtroom Behavior
It is expected that you respect the Court at all times.

• Please turn off all cell phones or any other electronic devices when entering the Courtrooms
• Please do not bring any food or drinks into the Courtrooms.
• Please do not chew gum while in the Courtrooms.
• While in the Courtrooms, please keep your voices quiet for they can carry easily
• Please do not bring newspapers into the Courtrooms
• Please be on time for your scheduled hearing

A detention hearing is a short hearing before the Associate Judge to rule on two basic things:

1. Whether the police report gives sufficient reason to believe that your child has committed an offense (probable cause).
2. Whether the child will remain in detention for 7 to 10 days and if so, set a date to reconsider the child’s release/detention within 10 days.

**Note: Detention Hearings are NOT to discuss or decide about the offense itself, the hearing is to determine where the child will be kept while pending court.

Each day, there are three types of Detention Hearings. Each type of hearing is heard together and youth are called in alphabetical order by their last name.

• An Initial Hearing is the first hearing held since the youth was brought to Detention and they are heard first.
• Walk-up Hearings are for youth usually from the outside and these hearings are held second.
• Ten Day Hearings are for those youth who have been detained at an Initial Hearing, Walk-up Hearing and for whom the Judge will reconsider their detention or release. The child will have a Ten Day Hearing every ten working days or less while in detention.

Present at the hearing:

• Public Defender or Private Attorney: Will represent the child for the Detention Hearing
• District Attorney: Represents the Prosecutor’s Office and will make a recommendation
• Parents/ Guardians: Will be asked questions by the Public Defender/ Defense Attorney, District Attorney, and Judge in regard to the child’s behavior, school, etc. and may ask for the parent’s recommendation.

Our website for Dallas County Juvenile Department attempts' to provide information as a public service. Every effort is made to ensure that the information provided is up to date and correct. However, in any case where legal reliance on information contained on these pages is required, the official records with Dallas County should be consulted and/or contact the referenced agency directly. Dallas County Juvenile Department is not responsible for the content of, nor endorses any of our sites which has a link from the Dallas County Juvenile Department.

A Teen's Guide - English
Guía de un adolescente - Español

TJJD Notice of Public Complaint
TJJD Aviso del Proceso de Denuncia Pública

Parental Written Statement
Declaración por escrito de padres

Our website for Dallas County Juvenile Department attempts' to provide information as a public service. Every effort is made to ensure that the information provided is up to date and correct. However, in any case where legal reliance on information contained on these pages is required, the official records with Dallas County should be consulted and/or contact the referenced agency directly. Dallas County Juvenile Department is not responsible for the content of, nor endorses any of our sites which has a link from the Dallas County Juvenile Department.

Harmony Community Development Corporation
Outlast Youth Resource List
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
PsychCentral
Suicide and Crisis Center of North Texas
Texas Suicide and Crisis Hotlines
Community for Accredited Online Schools