y District of Columbia » Juvenile court

Judicial selection, 2022

• Elected

• Appointed

• Combination

Judicial specialization, 2022

• All mixed case types

• Mostly mixed

• Mostly specialized

Caseload assignment, 2022

• Mixed assignment methods

• Individual discretion

• Statute/State court rules

Judicial experience, training, and tools, 2022

• Qualification Requirements

• Required Annual Training

• Required Risk/Need Assessments and Pre-Dispositional Reports

• Juvenile Justice Bench Books

Courtroom shackling, 2015

Restricted by judiciary

In the District of Columbia, Superior Court Administrative Order 15-07 (4/6/15) prohibits routine use of restraints. Family court must make an individualized determination of necessity (related to flight risk or safety/risk to self/others) at initial hearings, which can consider information from agencies working with the youth.  Use of shackles requires a court order with written findings of fact. The youth will remain in restraints for transport and in the courtroom until the determination is made. If the youth does not wish to enter the courtroom in restraints, counsel may waive appearance of the youth until after a decision is made.

Competency, 2015

In the District of Columbia, juvenile statute aligns with the Dusky standard and proscribes various actions when juveniles may be “incompetent to proceed”. Procedures include when examinations may or must occur, elements that must be in the report, and under what conditions the petition can be dismissed without prejudice and refiled once competency is restored. Youth cannot be transferred to (adult) criminal court unless they are competent.

• No juvenile standard

• Juvenile standard is the adult standard

• Juvenile justice standard exists

• JJ standard includes developmental immaturity