A dependency is an assertion by the state or a third party that a parent is unfit or unable to care for their child or children. Dependency Court cases involve the protection of children that have been or are at risk of being abused, neglected, or abandoned.
A juvenile, someone between the ages of 8 and 18, who is charged with a criminal offense is accused of being delinquent. A juvenile court is designated to handle all juvenile delinquency cases.
The Mental Health Court (MHC) is a dedicated court, with an assigned presiding judge, mental health professional, and probation staff with mental health expertise, prosecutor and public defender.