Code of Alabama
Article 1 - General Provisions.
Section 12-15-120 - Cases Initiated by Filing of Petitions by Juvenile Court Intake Officers.

(a) Delinquency, child in need of supervision, and dependency cases and proceedings pursuant to Section 12-15-132 before the juvenile court shall be initiated by the filing of a petition by the juvenile court intake officer who shall receive verified complaints and proceed thereon pursuant to rules of procedure adopted by the Supreme Court of Alabama.
(b) A petition alleging that a child is a delinquent child, dependent child, or a child in need of supervision shall not be filed by a juvenile court intake officer unless the juvenile court intake officer has determined and endorsed upon the petition that the juvenile court has subject matter jurisdiction and venue over the case and that the filing of the petition is in the best interests of the public and the child.

Structure Code of Alabama

Code of Alabama

Title 12 - Courts.

Chapter 15 - Juvenile Proceedings.

Article 1 - General Provisions.

Section 12-15-101 - Purpose of the Alabama Juvenile Justice Act; Short Title; Goals for the Juvenile Court.

Section 12-15-102 - Definitions.

Section 12-15-103 - Juvenile Court Judges May Be Circuit or District Court Judges; Maintenance of Separate Juvenile Case Action Summaries; Promulgation of Rules of Procedure for Juvenile Courts; Powers of Judges of Juvenile Courts as to Issuance of W...

Section 12-15-104 - Advisory Boards.

Section 12-15-105 - Exercise of Authority by District Attorneys in Juvenile Court Proceedings Generally; Assistance by District Attorneys in the Juvenile Courts; Representation of the State by District Attorneys in Cases Appealed From Juvenile Courts...

Section 12-15-106 - Juvenile Court Referees' Qualifications and Appointment; Conduct of Hearings of Cases by Juvenile Court Referees; Transmission of Findings and Recommendations for Disposition of Juvenile Court Referees to Juvenile Court Judges; Pr...

Section 12-15-107 - Juvenile Probation Officers - Duties of Juvenile Probation Officers Generally; Powers of Juvenile Probation Officers as to Taking Into Custody and Placing in Shelter or Detention Care of Children Generally; Procedure Upon Taking I...

Section 12-15-108 - Liability of Counties for Expenses of Maintenance and Care of Children Under the Jurisdiction of the Juvenile Court Pursuant to This Chapter; Reimbursement.

Section 12-15-109 - Issuance of Orders to Parents for Payment of Court Costs, Fees of Attorneys, and Expenses for Support, Treatment of Children Under the Jurisdiction of the Juvenile Court Pursuant to This Chapter; Manner of Payment; Proceedings Upo...

Section 12-15-110 - Punishment for Contempt of Court of Persons Disobeying Orders of the Juvenile Court Generally.

Section 12-15-111 - Contributing to the Delinquency, Dependency, or Need of Supervision of Children.

Section 12-15-112 - Interference With Performance of Duties by Juvenile Probation Officers.

Section 12-15-113 - Jurisdiction to Make a Parent or Parents, Legal Guardians, or Legal Custodians Parties to Juvenile Court Proceedings.

Section 12-15-114 - Original Jurisdiction - Juvenile.

Section 12-15-115 - Original Jurisdiction - Civil.

Section 12-15-116 - Original Jurisdiction - Criminal.

Section 12-15-117 - Retention and Termination of Jurisdiction Generally.

Section 12-15-117.1 - Continuing Jurisdiction of Juvenile Court to Modify and Enforce Judgments.

Section 12-15-118 - Duties of Juvenile Court Intake Officers.

Section 12-15-119 - Informal Adjustment of Certain Cases Prior to Filing of Juvenile Petition.

Section 12-15-120 - Cases Initiated by Filing of Petitions by Juvenile Court Intake Officers.

Section 12-15-121 - Form, Contents, and Execution of Juvenile Petitions.

Section 12-15-122 - Issuance and Service of Summonses Generally; Waiver of Service of Summonses.

Section 12-15-123 - Manner of Service of Summons.

Section 12-15-124 - Authority of Juvenile Court to Make Interlocutory or Final Dispositional Orders in Cases Where Parties Served by Publication.

Section 12-15-125 - Taking Into Custody of Children Generally.

Section 12-15-126 - Issuance of Pick-Up Order for Taking Into Custody.

Section 12-15-127 - Release, Delivery to Detention or Shelter Care Facility, Medical Facility of Children Taken Into Custody Generally.

Section 12-15-128 - Authority and Criteria for Continuation of Detention or Shelter Care of Children Taken Into Custody Beyond 72 Hours.

Section 12-15-129 - Conduct of Hearings Generally.

Section 12-15-130 - Ordering, Conduct, and Certification of Findings of Mental and Physical Examinations of Children; Minors or Children Believed to Be Individuals With a Mental Illness or an Intellectual Disability; Treatment or Care for Children; P...

Section 12-15-131 - Issuance of Orders Restraining Conduct of Parties to Proceedings.

Section 12-15-132 - Proceedings Against Children Violating Terms of Probation or Aftercare; Disposition of These Children.

Section 12-15-133 - Filing and Inspection of Records.

Section 12-15-134 - Maintenance and Inspection of Law Enforcement Records.

Section 12-15-135 - Taking and Disposition of Fingerprints, Photographs, Blood Samples.

Section 12-15-136 - Proceedings for Sealing Legal and Social Files and Records of Courts, Pertaining to Certain Persons and Effect Thereof.

Section 12-15-137 - Proceedings for Destruction of Legal and Social Files and Records of Juvenile Courts Pertaining to Certain Persons and Effect Thereof.

Section 12-15-138 - Power of Juvenile Courts to Enter Protection or Restraint Ex Parte Order; When Order May Be Entered; Purpose of Order.

Section 12-15-139 - Requisites for Order; Notice and Hearing; Evidentiary Standard; Showing of Necessity to Protect Health or Safety of Child Subject to a Juvenile Court Proceeding, Best Interests of the Child.

Section 12-15-140 - Content of Order; Order May Set Forth Reasonable Conditions of Behavior for Parents, Persons Responsible for Care; Enumeration of Certain Specific Requirements Which May Be Included in Order.

Section 12-15-141 - Emergency Ex Parte Orders Authorized Upon Showing of Verified Evidence of Abuse or Neglect; Evidence Required; Hearing Required Within 72 Hours of Issuance of Order.

Section 12-15-142 - Modification, Extension, or Termination of Order After Notice and Hearing for Person Subject Thereto; Findings Required Concerning Best Interests of the Child Subject to a Juvenile Court Proceeding.

Section 12-15-143 - Violations of Orders Punished as Contempt; Willful Conduct Rendering Violator Responsible for Court Costs and Attorney Fees.

Section 12-15-144 - Construction of Sections; Sections to Be Read in Pari Materia With Certain Other Laws.