Section 12 Attorney forJuvenileOfficer

• Library: Juvenile Law 2011

The juvenile officer, as the petitioner in juvenile court cases, is responsible for:

· filing a legally sufficient petition;

· proving that the allegations of the petition are true; and

· convincing the judge that a particular disposition or treatment plan should be implemented.

To fulfill this responsibility effectively, the juvenile officer may seek the advice and services of legal counsel. In the past, this was done infrequently. But in recent times, given the proliferation of case decisions, court rules, and statutes in the field of juvenile law and the increasing number of contested matters set before the juvenile court in which the juvenile or juvenile’s parents are represented by an attorney, the juvenile officer’s need for legal representation has increased dramatically. The Supreme Court of Missouri, recognizing this, now requires that “evidence . . . shall be presented by counsel for the juvenile officer” in all cases in which the allegations of the petition are denied. Rule 116.03.

In circuits with greater populations, the juvenile...