For Parents and Public

Appropriate Courtroom Attire
It is expected that our families and youth dress appropriately for court as if you were going to school, a job interview and or a religious service. It is preferred that males wear jeans (no holes or rips), slacks, a tucked in shirt, belt, tennis shoes or dress shoes. Females may wear jeans (no holes or rips), dress, skirt or slacks with a shirt/blouse, tennis shoes or 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, vulgar language, or any clothing referencing drugs, alcohol or tobacco (this includes graphic designs on the clothing).
• 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. If you must talk, please have the conversation outside of court, while court is in session.
• 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 that must be held within 48 hours of a youth being brought to Detention.
• Walk-up Hearings are for youth usually from the outside or non-secure facilities, that are requested by the assigned probation officer. These hearings are heard to allow the court to consider additional information, to reconsider detention or release.
• 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, unless a disposition has been ordered on the case(s) that initially brought the child to 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/State and will make a recommendation to the court.
• Probation Officer: Represents the Juvenile Department and will make a recommendation to the court.
• 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.

At the conclusion of the hearing the Judge will decide whether your child:

1. Can go home pending further court action.
2. Can go home pending further court action and with court ordered conditions, electronic monitoring and or additional programs while the child is at home.
3. Will remain in detention (detained) for 7 to 10 working days, at which time the child’s release or detainment will be reconsidered.

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

This is meant as a general guide for parents, teachers, mentors, volunteers, churches, community partners and all who work with youth, especially minority youth and keeping them safe from potential negative law enforcement encounters. This is by no means an absolute guarantee for keeping our youth safe in every circumstance; however, it is a general guide for suggesting behaviors which may produce positive outcomes vs negative outcomes in our encounters with law enforcement official(s).

Click here for an informative PDF on how to STOP + LOOK + LISTEN = LIVE!