The Juvenile Court Division of the District Attorney’s Office prosecutes individuals aged 17 years and under who are accused of committing delinquent acts in Athens-Clarke or Oconee Counties. Juvenile Court hearings are held before a judge and not a jury.
The Division has recently been restructured and renamed to be the “Juvenile and Restorative Justice Division” with the mission to restore and redirect youth so they will become positive contributors to the community. This means to no longer merely react to juvenile crime, but to initiate strategies to prevent it. The goal of the juvenile justice process is to protect both a child’s and the community’s best interest.