This is the Georgia that establishes jurisdiction of juvenile courts.
Except as provided in Code Section 15-11-560, the juvenile court shall have exclusive original jurisdiction over juvenile matters and shall be the sole court for initiating action:
(1) Concerning any child who:
(A) Is alleged to be a delinquent child;
(B) Is alleged to be a child in need of services;
(C) Is alleged to be a dependent child;
(D) Is alleged to be in need of treatment or commitment as a mentally ill or developmentally disabled child;
(E) Is alleged to have committed a juvenile traffic offense as defined in Code Section 15-11-630;
(F) Has been placed under the supervision of the court or on probation to the court; provided, however, that such jurisdiction shall be for the purpose of completing, effectuating, and enforcing such supervision or a probation begun prior to such child's seventeenth birthday;
(G) Has remained in foster care after such child's eighteenth birthday or who is receiving independent living services from DFCS after such child's eighteenth birthday; provided, however, that such jurisdiction shall be for the purpose of reviewing the status of such child and the services being provided to such child as a result of such child's independent living plan or status as a child in foster care; or
(H) Requires a comprehensive services plan in accordance with Code Section 15-11-658; or
(2) Involving any proceedings:
(A) For obtaining judicial consent to the marriage, employment, or enlistment in the armed services of any child if such consent is required by law;
(B) For permanent guardianship brought pursuant to the provisions of Article 3 of this chapter;
(C) Under Code Section 39-3-2, the Interstate Compact on Juveniles, or any comparable law, enacted or adopted in this state;
(D) For the termination of the legal parent-child relationship and the rights of the biological father who is not the legal father of the child in accordance with Article 2 of this chapter; provided, however, that such jurisdiction shall not affect the superior court's exclusive jurisdiction to terminate the legal parent-child relationship as set forth in Chapters 6 through 9 of Title 19;
(E) For emancipation brought pursuant to the provisions of Article 10 of this chapter;
(F) Under Article 8 of this chapter, relating to prior notice to a parent, guardian, or legal custodian relative to an unemancipated minor's decision to seek an abortion; or
(G) Brought by a local board of education pursuant to Code Section 20-2-766.1, relating to court orders requiring that a parent, guardian, or legal custodian attend a conference or participate in programs or treatment to improve a student's behavior.
Go to the following link and study the case flow diagram and read the explanation. The information is relevant for the next chapter also. http://www.ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/structure_process/case.html
ASSIGNMENT
A careful reading of the laws presented above provides information that juvenile courts deal with deprived or neglected children as well as those that commit offenses. Should juvenile court be responsible for intervening in the lives of infants and children who have not committed offenses but are deprived? Explain your reasoning.