JJsystem4

JAC Home Page Parent Information Partner Organizations Page		Juvenile Justice System in Lee County Arrest Civil Citation Juvenile Booking Facility What is Secure Detention? What is Home Detention? Picking Up a Youth from the JAC Detention Hearing Juvenile Court Process State Attorney Review of Case Non-Judicial Handling of Cases No Petition Nolle Prosequi Court Diversion Lee County Diversion Programs Judicial Handling of Cases Delinquency Petition Right to Counsel Appointment of Public Defender Arraignment Hearing Plea Negotiations Adjudicatory Hearing Assessments Disposition Hearing Restitution Hearing Probation Commitment Supervision After Commitment Post Commitment Probation Conditional Release Juvenile Justice Case Flow Important Phone Numbers Map to DJJ Probation Offices & SWFAS Cape Coral
The Juvenile Court Process in Lee County
	Juvenile Court is held at the Lee County Justice Center at 1700 Monroe Street in Fort Myers. Juvenile court is held in Courtroom A on the 6^th floor of the new Justice Complex. An entrance is available from either Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. or from Main Street. A youth may have several court dates, depending on how their case proceeds through the judicial process. It is important for the youth and their parents to attend all court dates. If a youth does not show up for a court date, he/she can be arrested and will have an additional charge added to his/her record.
State Attorney Review of the Case
Once the State Attorney (sometimes called “the State”) receives the formal complaint from law enforcement, an Assistant State Attorney will review the facts of the case. The State determines what charges will be filed against the youth. The State Attorney may decide to handle the case non-judicially (not go through the court process) or to handle the case judicially (go through the court process).
Non-Judicial Handling of Cases
No Petition
Sometimes the State Attorney decides not to file formal charges against the youth and a “no petition” is filed. The reasons for this decision may be that there is a lack of evidence, the victim desires to have the case dismissed, the State is not able to locate witnesses, and/or there are other legal defects in the case.
Nolle Prosequi
Sometimes new evidence is discovered after the State has already filed formal charges. Based on the new evidence, the State may decide not to prosecute the case. This is called a “nolle prosequi” and is commonly known as “nol pros.” If either a “no petition” or a “nol pros” is filed, the case is closed.
Back Next