Juvenile Court - Delinquency

Heard County Georgia

Official Government Website

Heard County
Administration Building
201 Park Avenue
Franklin, GA 30217
(706) 675-3821 (TTY 711)

Heard County
Court & Voter Services
215 East Court Square
Franklin, GA 30217
(706) 675-7560 (TTY 711)

Delinquency

Juvenile delinquency court is a division of the Superior Court of Heard County. Juvenile delinquency proceedings involve children under the age of 17 (minor) alleged to have committed a delinquent act considered a crime if committed by an adult. However, if the minor is over the age of 14 and the alleged delinquent act is a serious offense, such as murder or sex crime, the minor could be tried as an adult in adult criminal court. The authority of juvenile court is contained at O.C.G.A.15-11-10.

The law says the court has to protect the public and minors subject to juvenile proceedings. To ensure this, juvenile court judges have to consider:

Juvenile Court

The judge decides if the court will intervene in the minor’s future. If it does, the judge has to consider the appropriate course of action for the minor, and how to make the minor take responsibility for his or her actions. The court will then decide how to care for, treat, and guide the minor. This can include punishment so that the minor learns to obey the law.

The court wants the minor to learn to be positive member of his or her family and the community.

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How to keep the public safe and protected,

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How to help the victim, and

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What orders would be in the best-interest of the minor and victims.