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Juvenile Court Building |
Clark County Juvenile Court seeks to create a justice system which focuses on the harms caused by crime. This response considers the well-being of the entire community. It does not focus just on short-term external control of juvenile offenders. Rather, the Juvenile Court considers the immediate and long-term needs of victims, the community, and offenders together, so that all benefit from their interactions with the juvenile justice system.
This balanced and restorative approach values the needs of victims and the community, and places Clark County Juvenile Court in the forefront of a new perspective of understanding how the justice system serves the community. It goes beyond the initiation of a program or set of programs. It requires an intentional re-focusing of every practice and policy of the Juvenile Court to reflect the philosophy that is articulated in its Mission Statement and Values.
Background
Clark County established its first juvenile court in the early 1900’s. The Juvenile Court is a division of the Clark County Superior Court and operates under the administrative authority of the Clark County Superior Court judges. Excepting as otherwise provided within statute, Juvenile Court has exclusive jurisdiction over juveniles who violate criminal laws and who are in need of protection and/or advocacy as a result of abuse, neglect, or abandonment.
