Nevada is a decentralized state, meaning that delinquency services are organized at both the state and local level. District juvenile courts, except in Clark County, administer most secure detention facilities in the state and juvenile probation services.

How is detention organized? 

Clark County's Department of Juvenile Justice Services, under the Board of County Commissioners, administers a secure juvenile detention facility. Probation departments operate secure detention facilities under a juvenile or family court judge's direction in the following counties: Carson City, Douglas, Elko, Humboldt, Mineral, and Washoe.

Intake workers or probation officers in the probation department's assessment unit may recommend to the district attorney that a juvenile be diverted and placed under informal supervision. Juveniles who voluntarily admit to being delinquent may consent to being placed on informal supervision.

The Nevada Revised Statutes for Victims of Crime (NRS 217) applies to victims of juvenile offenders under NRS 62. Victims of juvenile offenders have the right to present an oral impact statement at disposition, be informed of the disposition of the case, receive restitution, and know if the offender was committed and the location of that placement, and be informed of the release date.

District courts administer probation services, except in Clark County where the county executive administers probation. Each probation department has standard conditions for probation that a court order can enhance.  A.C.R. 13, the Legislative Commission’s Subcommittee to Study the System of Juvenile Justice in Nevada, recommended the implementation of Probation Community Placement instruments statewide.

Each judicial district determines the employment qualifications for its juvenile probation officers. The Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) Commission, a cabinet-level commission, certifies probation officers. Certification is a requirement for employment. Probation officers must complete 8 weeks at the POST academy during their first year of employment and 24 hours of continuing education each following year.

The Nevada Division of Child and Family Services gains custody of the juvenile and makes placement decisions. Youth parole counselors supervise juveniles while they are in state custody. Courts can place a juvenile in a local or private placement without committing the juvenile to the Nevada Division of Child and Family Services.

A clinical team made up of mental health professionals, correctional staff, parole officers and school personnel conduct clinical team reviews for all youths who are close to completing their commitment. The team provides a recommendation to the superintendents of the State Youth Training Centers to make release decisions.

Youth Correctional Services, Division of Child and Family Services, Department of Human Resources administers aftercare services for youth returning from state commitment through its Youth Parole Bureau. The Youth Parole Bureau provides aftercare services to youth released from the Nevada Youth Training Center at Elko, the Caliente Youth Center in Caliente, and youth committed to Division of Child and Family Services custody at the China Spring Youth Camp in Minden.

Nevada’s purpose clause is rooted in the Standard Juvenile Court Act. Enacted in 1925 and revised numerous times, The Act proposed the idea the each child coming into court jurisdiction shall receive the care, guidance, and control that will be conducive to his welfare and to the best interest of the state. If the child is removed from the home, the court will provide care as equivalent as possible to that of his parents.

Lower Age: None specified

Upper Age: 17

Extended Age of Delinquency Jurisdiction: 20

The Nevada Association of Juvenile Justice Administrators' standardized instrument guides staff in recommending appropriate levels of correctional care. Youth facilities use the Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument (MAYSI) and the Problem Oriented Screening Instrument for Teenagers (POSIT) as part of the institutional treatment plan that is developed for each juvenile.