The Juvenile Court of Miami County is a division of the Miami County Common Pleas Court. Our purpose is to counsel and rehabilitate youth who commit crimes, protect the Miami County community from juvenile crime, assist the victims of that crime, and protect children from abuse, neglect, and dependency.

Juvenile Court becomes involved in the lives of our children under 18 who:

• Do not obey their parents, school officials, and other custodians
• Do not attend school, who violate curfew, who drink alcohol and use drugs
• Commit violations of traffic laws
• Commit delinquent acts
• Are victims of abuse, neglect or dependency
• And who’s circumstances require orders of paternity, custody, visitation, and child support

The Court also hears cases of adults who contribute to the unruliness or delinquency of a minor. Consistent with our purpose to provide safe and appropriate homes to the children of Miami County, Juvenile Court handles paternity, child support, and child custody and visitation cases. The Court protects the interests and rights of our children and the public by rehabilitating and holding youth and their families accountable for their actions. The Court strives to strengthen the family and empower the parents to actively provide the balance of love, structure, supervision and responsibility so that their children will develop the self-control and independence needed to become productive, self-sufficient, law abiding adults.

Referrals reach the Court through various channels, including parents, school officials, law enforcement authorities, neighbors, Children Services representatives, and the Prosecutor’s office.