Juvenile Officer

The position of Juvenile Officer encompasses many different duties and responsibilities. Among these duties are handling and coordinating the various paperwork and filings that go to Juvenile Court on each juvenile charged with an offense. This also includes investigative follow-up on more serious crimes committed by juveniles. The Juvenile Officer also acts as a liaison between our police department and the Department of Children and Family Services. Contacts are made between the two agencies, usually through the juvenile officer, and joint investigations are done when requested by the Department of Children and Family Services. Another significant duty is the Juvenile Officer’s oversight and coordination of Westlake’s Community Diversion Program. This is a Juvenile Court sanctioned diversion program for youthful first-time offenders. The program features four Volunteer Magistrates who meet these offenders on a one to one basis once they enter the program. Measures are taken to correct their behavior under the supervision of the Juvenile Officer.