Juvenile Proceedings. Juvenile cases are in the matter of a "child" or "minor" as these terms are defined by the Alabama Juvenile Justice Act ( § § 12-15-1 through 12-15176). A magistrate according to Alabama Rules of Juvenile Procedure, Rule 12, must initiate every juvenile case. The magistrate receives and evaluates juvenile complaints similarly to criminal complaints and determines whether a petition will be filed to initiate a case before the court. Code, § 12-15-50. The following are various types of juvenile cases:

• Delinquent, where a child is alleged to have committed a crime. Code, § 12 15-30(a).

• Dependent, where a child is alleged to be subjected to abuse, neglect, a custody controversy or inadequate care. Code, § 12-15-30(a).

• Child in need of supervision, where a child is alleged to have committed a juvenile status offense. Code, § 12-15-30(a).

• Custody/guardianship, where the child is otherwise before the court or to register or enforce a custody decree of a juvenile court of another state. Code, §§ 12-15-30(b)(1) & 30-3-23.

• Judicial consent for a child's marriage, employment, enlistment or withdrawal from school. Code, § 12-15-30(b)(2).

• Interstate Compact on Juveniles, for interstate placement of delinquent children or the return of juvenile interstate runaways, escapees or absconders. Code, § 12-15-30(b)(3) & 44-2-1 el seq..

• Involuntary commitment of a child or minor to the Alabama Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation. Code, §§ 12-15-30(b)(4), 12-15-31(4) & 12-15-90.

• Termination of parental rights to a child. Code, § 12-15-30(b)(6) & 26-18-1 el seq..

• Emergency removal or medical treatment for a child. Code, §12-15-30(c)(I) Violation of a child's rights in public school proceedings. Code, § 12-15 30(c)(2).

Criminal Proceedings. The magistrates of the Intake Office receive criminal complaints and issue warrants for the following misdemeanor offenses under the jurisdiction of Family Court:

• Violation of the Alabama Juvenile Justice Act. Code, § 12-15-31(l).

• Desertion and non-support. Code, § 12-15-31(3).

• Violation of the compulsory school attendance laws- Code, § 16-28-21.

Civil Proceedings. The Intake Office assists the public in the filing of the following civil petitions in Family Court:

• Parentage of a child. Code, § 12-15-3](2),

• Child support. Code, § 30-3-60.

• Protection from abuse where there is no divorce pending. Code, § 30-5-2.

• Waiver of parental consent for abortion- Code, § 26-21-4.

Removal of disabilities of nonage of a minor- Code, § 12-15-30(b)(2) & 2618-1 et seq..

The magistrates are on duty at the Family Court Courthouse and the Bessemer Courthouse during county office hours. At least one magistrate is on duty or on call at the G- Ross Bell Youth Detention Center at all other times for emergencies. For further information please contact the Intake Office, in Birmingham at 205-325-5454, in Bessemer at 205-481-4225, and on nights and weekends at 205-325-5805.