A. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, any child, ten years of age or older, against whom a complaint has been filed citing the commission of a delinquent act shall appear at the juvenile court at a time certain set by the juvenile court. When the offense alleged is a misdemeanor other than assault or battery and is the child’s first offense according to juvenile court records, the juvenile court may, in its sole discretion, refer the child to a youth service bureau or similar counseling program or make the complaint a matter of record in lieu of the child appearing at the juvenile court.

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Terms Used In Arizona Laws 8-307

  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Complaint: means a written statement of the essential facts constituting a public offense that is any of the following:

    (a) Made on an oath before a judge or commissioner of the superior court or an authorized juvenile hearing officer. See Arizona Laws 8-201

  • Custodian: means a person, other than a parent or legal guardian, who stands in loco parentis to the child or a person to whom legal custody of the child has been given by order of the juvenile court. See Arizona Laws 8-201
  • Delinquent act: means an act by a juvenile that if committed by an adult would be a criminal offense or a petty offense, a violation of any law of this state, or of another state if the act occurred in that state, or a law of the United States, or a violation of any law that can only be violated by a minor and that has been designated as a delinquent offense, or any ordinance of a city, county or political subdivision of this state defining crime. See Arizona Laws 8-201
  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
  • Juvenile court: means the juvenile division of the superior court when exercising its jurisdiction over children in any proceeding relating to delinquency, dependency or incorrigibility. See Arizona Laws 8-201

B. The law enforcement agency making the complaint shall immediately notify the parents, guardian or custodian of the child that the complaint is being sent to the juvenile court. Failure to make such notification shall not bar any proceeding in any court.