Juveniles/Minors

Hewitt




Juveniles/Minors

 

In accordance with Chapter 45A, subchapter “E” of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, offenses, other than traffic offenses, committed on or after January 1, 2025, by a child may be diverted from formal criminal prosecution. 

 

A child is eligible for diversion if:

  • The child is at least 10 years of age and younger than 17 years of age.
  • The child is charged with a misdemeanor offense, punishable by fine only, other than a traffic offense.
  • The child has not entered into a diversion agreement in the past 365 days.
  • The child has not previously had an unsuccessful diversion.
  • The child and child’s parent/guardian consent to be place on the diversion and agree to the terms.
  • There is no objection to by the attorney representing the state.

Participation in the diversion is voluntary and is not an admission of guilt.

 

If the child successfully complies with the conditions on the diversion agreement, the case is closed without further prosecution and is reported as successful. 

 

Should the child voluntarily withdraw from the diversion agreement or fail to comply with the terms of the agreement, this may result in the court conducting a non-adversarial hearing, transferring the child to the juvenile court, referring the charge(s) to the prosecutor for filing consideration, or issue an order of contempt against the parents.

 

For additional information regarding the Youth Diversion Plan, please see the link below.

Youth Diversion Plan

 

All other juveniles (defendants 16 years of age and under) who receive a citation for a traffic offense, will

be required to appear before the Judge with a parent/guardian.

 

In addition to the requirement to appear, juveniles (under 17 years of age) and their parent(s) have an obligation to provide the Court with their current address of residence in writing. On or before the seventh (7th) day after the date on which juveniles or their parent(s) change residence, the juvenile or parent/guardian SHALL notify the court of their current address by Certified U.S. Mail, Return Receipt Requested. A violation of this subsection is a Class C misdemeanor and may result in arrest. The obligation to provide notice ends upon the final disposition of charges filed from the juvenile’s citation and not when the juvenile becomes 17 years old.

 

Minors (17-20) charged with Alcohol / Tobacco offenses must also appear before the judge.

 

The Alcoholic Beverage Code provides specific appearance and plea procedures for these offenses. A minor, who is defined as a person under the age of 21, must appear in open court to enter a plea. Sec. 106.10, A.B.C.


JUVENILES WHO FAIL TO APPEAR OR FAIL TO SATISFY A JUDGEMENT IN MUNICIPAL COURT WILL BE DENIED A DRIVER'S LICENSE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY. IF THE JUVENILE ALREADY HAS A DRIVER'S LICENSE, THAT LICENSE WILL BE SUSPENDED UNTIL SATISFACTION OF CRIMINAL CHARGES IS RESOLVED

At your court appearance, you will be expected to conduct yourself appropriately and dress properly. 

 

If you have any questions, please contact the Hewitt Municipal Court at: 254-666-1208