Terms Used In Louisiana Children's Code 542

  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.

For the purposes of this Chapter, “juvenile justice system” means the system of public and private services in Louisiana that includes prevention, early identification, early intervention, child protection, law enforcement, prosecution, defense, adjudication, diversion and informal processing, probation, corrections, aftercare, transitional living, and other services provided to children and families who either are or are likely to be brought into a court with juvenile jurisdiction because of problems such as abuse, neglect or abandonment, mental illness, substance abuse, aspects of a divorce and breakup of families, pre-delinquency, social irresponsibility or delinquent behavior, or spousal abuse involving children.

Acts 2005, No. 119, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2006.