Like all state court systems, Iowa has a separate court that handles legal issues involving children. The juvenile court, which is a specialized court within the district court, presides over three kinds of cases related to children who are under eighteen years of age:

• Child in Need of Assistance (CINA)--CINA cases typically involve abused or neglected children. Children in Need of Assistance (CINA) proceedings in juvenile court include adjudication, child removal, disposition hearings, review hearings, permanent placement plans, and termination of parental rights proceedings. For more information about CINA proceedings, please click on the following link that will take you to information provided by the State of Iowa Judiciary. http://www.judicial.state.ia.us/families/juvcourt/cina.asp
  
  
• Delinquency--Delinquency cases involve acts by children, which would be considered criminal acts if committed by an adult. Delinquency proceedings in juvenile court include intake, informal adjustment, formal proceedings, and disposition. For more information about delinquency, please click on the following link that will take you to information provided by the State of Iowa Judiciary. http://www.judicial.state.ia.us/families/juvcourt/delproc.asp
  
  
• Commitment--Juvenile commitments are undertaken when a child has a chemical dependency addiction or mental health disorder that places the child or others around the child at risk of harm. Commitment proceedings involve the involuntary placement of a child in a hospital or other treatment facility. For more information about juvenile court commitment, please click on the following link that will take you to information provided by the State of Iowa Judiciary. http://www.judicial.state.ia.us/families/juvcourt/civilcom.asp

Taylor Law Offices
5001 S.W. 9th Street
Des Moines, Iowa 50315
Telephone: (515) 953-0226
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