Shawano County WI Juvenile Detention Center

You can support your loved ones at Shawano Co Juvenile Detention on InmateAid, if you have any immediate questions contact the facility directly at 715-526-4729.

The Shawano County WI Juvenile Detention Center is a medium to low-security detention center located at 607 E Elizabeth St Shawano, WI that is operated locally by the Juvenile Justice Department and holds youths awaiting the determination of punishment for the crimes of which they are accused. Most of the adolescents are here for less than two years.

The juvenile justice system differs from the adult system, focusing on rehabilitation and recognizing the developmental differences in juveniles. It aims to protect both the child and the public and helps juveniles become productive adults.

Juveniles are detained if they pose a threat, may miss court, or violate court orders. Parental involvement is crucial for effective supervision and rehabilitation.

Key differences in terminology include "taken into custody" instead of "arrest" and "supervision" instead of "probation." Referrals usually come from law enforcement, and an intake social worker decides the juvenile's placement. An inquiry can lead to dismissal, corrective action, or court involvement.

The process includes a plea hearing, possible evaluations, a pre-trial conference, a fact-finding hearing, and a dispositional hearing to determine the case's outcome. Parents may need to cover associated costs.

While there are some similarities, the juvenile justice system differs in various ways from the adult criminal system. Recognizing the many differences between a developing child and an adult, it is understood that the higher levels of the brain and the emotional regions are still developing in juveniles. Consequently, approaches that work for adults may not be effective for juveniles. The Juvenile Justice System aims to address not only the interests of the public but also the needs of the juvenile and their family, considering what skills, competencies, or resources are necessary to help avoid future problems. The primary duty is to protect the safety of both the child and the public and to mitigate any damage resulting from the child's behavior while working to ensure the child's future is bright and they become competent, productive adults.

Juveniles are held in detention primarily for three reasons: there is reason to believe they would cause harm to others if released, there is reason to believe they would be unavailable for further court proceedings if released, or they have been found in violation of a valid court order and rules of supervision. The juvenile justice system, therefore, focuses on both immediate safety concerns and long-term rehabilitative goals.

Parental involvement is a critical part of the entire Juvenile Court Process. No court order can be very successful if the parents do not participate in their child’s supervision plan. This may involve monitoring and enforcing the rules set by the judge and social worker, attending family meetings, going to counseling, taking parenting classes, transporting the child to different service providers, working closely with the school, holding the child accountable, and keeping the juvenile’s social worker informed of the child’s status.

Juvenile Court is different from the adult system. The goal of the juvenile system is to help both the parent and the child avoid future incidents, protect public safety, and help the juvenile restore any damage they may have done. Juvenile Justice primarily emphasizes education and rehabilitation. Some differences in terminology between the adult and juvenile systems include: "Arrest" is referred to as "taken into custody," "warrant" as "capias," "probation" as "supervision," a "plea of not guilty" as "deny the facts," a "plea of guilty" as "admit to the facts," "misdemeanor" or "felony" as "delinquent act," "arraignment" as "plea hearing," and "sentencing" as "disposition."

Typically, referrals to Juvenile Court come from law enforcement. When a child is held in the custody of a law enforcement official, law enforcement will notify human services. The intake social worker will decide if the juvenile may go home, go to shelter care, or be detained in a juvenile secure facility. If the juvenile is placed in shelter care or secure, there will be a court hearing. The next step is for the intake social worker to review the file and offer to meet with the juvenile and the parents to discuss the seriousness of the alleged delinquent act and the child’s history. Children and their parents are not obligated to attend the intake inquiry. However, if they choose not to participate, the intake worker may refer the case to the court system for further action.

An inquiry usually results in one of three options: the referral is dismissed, sometimes referred to as counsel and close; the matter is held open, allowing the intake worker and the family to develop a plan of corrective action, with the case held open for up to 60 days without services or up to 12 months with voluntary services; or the matter is referred for petition, meaning the worker asks the District Attorney to petition the court to become directly involved in deciding what should be done with the child.

A plea hearing is where the juvenile will enter an admission or denial regarding the allegations. The judge may also order psychological and/or alcohol and drug abuse evaluations at this hearing. This is an initial hearing, and long-term planning decisions will probably not be made at this time. A pre-trial conference is where the attorneys, social worker, parents, and the judge may work out an agreement to settle the case without going to trial. A fact-finding hearing is when the judge will hear testimony from all parties to determine whether a dispositional hearing needs to be set. A dispositional hearing is where the judge will hear reports and recommendations from those involved in the case, review written reports, list the findings of fact, and decide the disposition of the case. In some minor cases, an agreement called a Consent Decree may be worked out at the pre-trial hearing, thereby avoiding a final dispositional hearing. The court may order the parents to pay some or all of the expenses associated with the court order, including attorneys' fees, out-of-home placement, education or medical costs, and AODA services or treatment.