Melody Goodin earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Oberlin College in 2017. She attended law school at the Case Western Reserve University School of Law and received her Juris Doctorate degree, graduating cum laude in 2020. While in law school, she interned for the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland and Catholic Charities Migration and Refugee Services in Cleveland. She also served as a Senior Editor of the Case Western Reserve University Law Review. Ms. Goodin has worked for the Allen County Public Defender's Office since 2021 and is currently assigned to the Youth Defense Division.
Julia George is the Youth Defense Division Coordinator. She works closely with the Youth Defense Division attorneys as well as the Court Staff at the Allen County Juvenile Court.
These are some examples of questions we regularly receive regarding cases at Allen County Juvenile Court. The information contained below is not to be considered legal advice and it is understood that each case should be handled and considered individually.
If a child is accused of committing a felony or misdemeanor offense that could be committed by an adult, such as burglary or theft, they may be charged in Juvenile Court and alleged to be a delinquent child based on the commission of that felony or misdemeanor offense.
If a child is accused of committing an offense that cannot be committed by an adult, such as a being a runaway or truant from school, they may be charged in Juvenile Court and alleged to be an unruly child based on the commission of that offense.
If a child is accused of committing a traffic-related offense, such as operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated or operating a motor vehicle without a valid license, they may be charged in Juvenile Court and alleged to be a juvenile traffic offender based on the commission of that traffic-related offense.
If a child is arrested for an offense and not immediately released to their parent or guardian by law enforcement, a Detention Hearing before the Juvenile Court must be held promptly, and is generally held on the next court day. At the Detention Hearing, the Juvenile Court will determine if the child should be released to their parent or guardian, or should remain in detention pending further court proceedings. The Public Defender’s Office makes efforts to represent as many children as possible at Detention Hearings.
If a child is charged with a felony, misdemeanor, or unruly child offense, then a Pre-Hearing is held so that the Juvenile Court can advise the child of the charge(s) against them, advise the child of their constitutional rights in proceedings before the Court, and advise the child of the potential consequences that they can receive. The child must then enter either a plea of “admission” or a plea of “denial” to the offenses, which are the Juvenile Court equivalents of “guilty” and “not guilty” pleas for adults.
If a child enters a plea of “denial” at their Pre-Hearing, then the Juvenile Court will schedule their case for a Pre-Trial Conference. This is similar to an adult pre-trial or status conference, and generally serves as a way for the parties to check in with the Juvenile Court and advise the Court of how the case is progressing. It may also be converted into a Change of Plea Hearing if a plea agreement is reached.
If a plea agreement is reached, then the Juvenile Court will schedule the child’s case for a Change of Plea Hearing. The child will then enter a plea of “admission” to the agreed-upon offenses, and the Court may proceed to disposition, or sentencing, right away, or may defer disposition to a later date so that a Pre-Dispositional Report can be completed.
An Adjudication Hearing is the Juvenile Court equivalent of a trial. All trials are held before the judge alone, with no jury, except under very specific circumstances. The judge will decide whether or not the child should be adjudicated delinquent, or found guilty, of the offenses, based on the evidence presented at trial.
If a child admits to an offense or is adjudicated delinquent of an offense following a trial, then the Court will hold a Disposition Hearing to determine what types of consequences the child should receive. Depending on the severity of the offense, the child’s consequences could include such things as probation, house arrest with or without electronic monitoring, fines, restitution, community service, time spent in a juvenile detention facility, time spent in a juvenile treatment center, or a commitment to the Department of Youth Services.
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The information contained on this website is for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice.
Phone: 419-996-7170