Texas Family Code 52.04 – Referral to Juvenile Court; Notice to Parents
(a) The following shall accompany referral of a child or a child’s case to the office or official designated by the juvenile board or be provided as quickly as possible after referral:
(1) all information in the possession of the person or agency making the referral pertaining to the identity of the child and the child’s address, the name and address of the child’s parent, guardian, or custodian, the names and addresses of any witnesses, and the child’s present whereabouts;
(2) a complete statement of the circumstances of the alleged delinquent conduct or conduct indicating a need for supervision;
(3) when applicable, a complete statement of the circumstances of taking the child into custody; and
(4) when referral is by an officer of a law-enforcement agency, a complete statement of all prior contacts with the child by officers of that law-enforcement agency.
(b) The office or official designated by the juvenile board may refer the case to a law-enforcement agency for the purpose of conducting an investigation to obtain necessary information.
Terms Used In Texas Family Code 52.04
- Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
- Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
(c) If the office of the prosecuting attorney is designated by the juvenile court to conduct the preliminary investigation under § 53.01, the referring entity shall first transfer the child’s case to the juvenile probation department for statistical reporting purposes only. On the creation of a statistical record or file for the case, the probation department shall within three business days forward the case to the prosecuting attorney for review under § 53.01.
(d) On referral of the case of a child who has not been taken into custody to the office or official designated by the juvenile board, the office or official designated by the juvenile board shall promptly give notice of the referral and a statement of the reason for the referral to the child’s parent, guardian, or custodian.