How is detention organized?  

Each county’s Board of Supervisors is statutorily responsible for providing and maintaining a juvenile detention center, but the operation of the center is under the authority of the presiding juvenile court judge.

In Arizona, the county attorney has the responsibility to determine which offenses are eligible for diversion. Diversion is the pathway for the majority of juvenile offenders charged with first or second time misdemeanor offenses.

Local juvenile courts administer regular probation, referred to as juvenile standard probation services, and are managed by Directors of Juvenile Court Services. In 7 of the 15 counties, probation departments include both Juvenile and Adult Officers.

Juvenile probation officers must have a bachelor's degree, preferably in the behavioral sciences. 

Juveniles are committed to the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections. Juvenile court judges consider Commitment Guidelines to the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections when determining which juveniles to commit to ADJC.

The Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections makes release decisions. However, the juvenile court occasionally recommends early release to a less restrictive placement if the youth successfully completes an intensive, in-patient program.

Parole officers from the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections supervise youth on aftercare (parole).

Arizona’s purpose clause is rooted in traditional child welfare philosophies. 

Lower Age: 8 

Upper Age: 17 

 Extended Age of Delinquency Jurisdiction: 20

Intake screens detention admissions. Most counties use a detention-screening tool, but it is not a uniform, statewide instrument.