Berrien County Trial Court - Juvenile Division

Mission: To effectively and efficiently administer justice in Child Protective and Juvenile Delinquency proceedings.

The Berrien County Trial Court Family Division’s Juvenile Department primarily handles two types of cases: Juvenile Delinquency cases and Child Protective proceedings. Cases in which children under the age of 17 have been charged with a crime. Included in this category are children under the age of 17 who have been charged with a “status offense” – that is, an offenses which would not be considered criminal if committed by an adult. Status offenses include truancy, incorrigibility and runaways. Cases in which children under the age of 18 are found within the County to be physically or mentally abused by their parents (or parental figures) or whose health, material, educational or supervisory needs are not being met.

We are looking for volunteers to staff the reception area in the Juvenile Division of the Berrien County Trial Court.  This person would assist people with questions about when/where their hearings are, welcome people who have come to meet with their Juvenile Probation Officer or therapist, answer the telephone and generally direct people to where they need to be. Receive/process court filings and hold timely hearings in Child Protective Proceedings and Juvenile Delinquency Proceedings.