What
does the Youth Investigations Unit do?
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The primary function of the Youth Investigations unit is storage
and maintenance of all juvenile records.
• We provide statistical information concerning juvenile arrests.
• Our office is the primary location where detectives interview
and obtain written statements of juveniles involved in serious crimes.
• We interview and counsel with juveniles that are evaluated
for entry into the First Offender program. If the juvenile is not
eligible for the First Offender Program we prepare the paperwork
that we forward to the Juvenile Probation Department and Juvenile
Courts.
• We notify schools of juvenile’s arrest for specific
crimes as required by state law.
• We maintain a list and release bicycles that have been confiscated
by the police department and taken to the Police Auto Pound. These
bicycles are kept at the Auto Pound for ## days and then they are
eligible to be sold at the monthly auctions.
Where
is the Youth Investigations Unit’s located?
We
are located on the first floor of the Thomas R. Windham, Police
Administration building at 350 West Belknap Street.
What
hours are you open?
Monday
through Friday from 8:00 am until 5:00 pm. We are closed on City
Holidays.
Does
the Police Department have a “Scared Straight” or “Boot
Camp” program for juveniles?
The
Fort Worth Police Department is not affiliated with any programs
of these types.
What
is the First Offender Program?
Rather
than send the juvenile to court, the juvenile and their parent are
offered the opportunity to attend classes at Family Matters of Lena
Pope home.
What
are the qualifications to be enrolled in the First Offender program?
Each
juvenile is evaluated on a case-by-case basis. The program is intended
for juveniles who have been taken into custody (arrested) the first
time for minor crimes such as shoplifting or evading arrest. Juveniles
taken into custody for crimes involving drugs, weapons or assaults
are not eligible. If the juvenile is not eligible for the First
Offender Program we prepare the paperwork that we forward to the
Juvenile Probation Department and Juvenile Courts.
What
are the benefits of taking the classes?
In
addition to not being sent to court, 90-days after graduation from
the program, the police department deletes the juvenile offenders
information from all reports and records. This deletes the juveniles
arrest record.
What
is discussed in the program?
Family
Matters employs licensed counselors who address issues of misbehavior
and irresponsibility. The program also focuses on parenting skills
to assist families in decreasing negative behaviors at home, in
the school and in the community using short-term, family-focused
intensive services.
Is
our discussion confidential?
What
is discussed in the classes is completely confidential and not discussed
with the police department; therefore, may not be used in any criminal
proceedings.
How
long does it last?
Both
the juvenile and parent(s) participate in separate structured 90-minute
classes once a week for seven weeks.
How
much does it cost?
There
is no charge for the program.
How
many juveniles have been through or presently enrolled in the First
Offender Program?
Over
750.
How
many juveniles have successfully completed the program?
There
are over 440 graduates who now have no police arrest record.
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Job
Corps wants a copy of my juvenile record, how do I obtain
one?
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Under
Texas Family Code, Section 58.106, Confidentiality of Juvenile Records,
“….information
contained in the juvenile justice information system is confidential
information for the use of the department and may not be disseminated
by the department…”
Therefore,
without a court order we cannot comply with a request for a juvenile
criminal history or confirm that there is no juvenile history on
record from the Fort Worth Police Department. We will give you a
letter on Police Department letterhead with this information.
Why
is there a Teen Curfew Ordinance?
The
purpose of the curfew ordinance is to prevent juveniles from committing
or becoming victims of crime.
What
is the History of the ordinance?
•
Research into a juvenile curfew began in 1991. The initial ordinance
was delayed until a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of
the ordinance involving the City of Dallas was resolved.
• After the Supreme Court upheld the Dallas Ordinance, The
Fort Worth Teen Curfew Ordinance was passed by City Council and
became effective on July 5, 1994. The ordinance must be reviewed
and approved every three years by City Council.
What
are the Hours of coverage?
•
The curfew is in effect after 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday.
• Just after midnight, at 12:01 a.m., Saturday and Sunday.
• The curfew ends at 6 a.m. seven days a week.
When
is the Teen Curfew Violated?
•
When a minor remains in any public place or on the premises of any
establishment within the city during curfew hours.
• When a parent or guardian of a minor knowingly permits the
minor to violate the curfew ordinance.
• When the owner, operator, or any employee of an establishment
knowingly allows a minor to remain at the establishment during curfew
hours
What
are the defenses to a violation of the Teen Curfew Ordinance?
That
the Teen was:
• Accompanied by the minor's parent or guardian
• On an errand at the direction of the minor's parent or guardian
• Engaged or going to or returning from an employment activity
• Involved in an emergency
• On the sidewalk abutting the minor's residence or abutting
the residence of a next-door neighbor if the neighbor did not complain
to the police department
• Attending an official school, religious, or other recreational
activity supervised by adults
• Exercising First Amendment rights
• Married or certified as an adult
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What
is the age when a person is considered a juvenile or an
adult?
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•
Texas Penal Code defines a juvenile as between 10 and 16
• Family Code requires parental responsibility for their child
until the child is 17
• Texas Education Code Compulsory School Attendance affects
persons between 6 and 18
• City of Fort Worth Ordinances:
• The Teen Curfew ordinance states -“Minor means any
person under 17 years of age
• The Bicycle Helmet Ordinance states – “Child
is any person under 18 years of age”
•
Federal laws regarding Runaways require law enforcement entry into
NCIC of persons as a Runaway under age 18, but prohibit law enforcement
from notifying the parents of the Runaway’s location if they
are located
• Various Tobacco laws and ordinances prohibit the possession
of tobacco by persons under 18
• Various Alcohol laws and ordinances prohibit the possession
of alcohol by persons under 21
Family
Matters Counseling
(817) 731- 8839
3131 Sanguinet St.
Fort Worth, TX 76107
www.lenapopehome.org
Tarrant
County Juvenile Services
2701 Kimbo Rd.
Fort Worth, TX 76111
(817) 838-4600
www.tarrantcounty.com/eJuvenile
Fort
Worth Municipal Teen Court
(817) 392-8681
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