What parents should know about juvenile detention screening in Van Buren County
If your child is facing possible secure detention in Van Buren County, a formal screening will help determine what happens next. Here's what you need to know: how the screening works, who conducts it, what the outcomes mean, and what legal protections apply to anything your child says.
Van Buren County requires a detention screening before any juvenile can be held in a secure facility. The county uses the MJJAS/OYAS-DET screening tool identified by SCAO - this isn't discretionary. Every youth must go through this screening before secure detention can happen.
The assigned probation officer administers the screening. If you have questions about the screening itself or want to understand who's making the call, that's the person to ask.
After-hours detention requests don't pause the process. The on-call probation officer steps in and completes the screening instead.
Screenings are normally done face-to-face. The exception: emergencies or after-hours situations, when the probation officer may conduct the screening by phone with the youth.
What happens after the screening depends on the score. If your child scores low risk, Van Buren County policy says they should be released to you or another guardian. You may also receive information about community resources - don't hesitate to ask what supports or referrals are available.
A high-risk score leads to a different outcome. Van Buren County may detain the youth if the screening indicates high risk.
Good to know: Anything your child says during the screening - statements, admissions, confessions, or other incriminating information - cannot be used against them. These statements aren't admissible in adjudicatory hearings, can't be subpoenaed, and may not be used in any other court proceeding or for any other purpose.
What-parents-can-do-right-away
- ✓ Ask who the assigned probation officer is, since that officer is responsible for administering the detention screening.
- ✓ If your child is released to you after a low-risk score, ask what community resources can be shared with you as the caregiver.
- ✓ If you have questions about court strategy or your child’s legal rights, consider contacting an attorney for guidance.
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