Youth Court UNSEALED: A Look Behind the Gavel

649 Days in Foster Care! We've all seen the signs that children hold on the day of their adoption. So why does it take so long? The reason rests in a thing called Permanency. In all cases, except those where there are "aggravating circumstances," the first goal in child welfare cases is Reunification with the parent(s). The length of time given to parents to make themselves and their...

Opening your home to an abused or neglected child and committing to love that child knowing that one day you may have to say goodbye is truly a calling. Judge O'Neal sat down to have a conversation with foster parents who went through the process in her court. Their case is closed now and all identities have been kept confidential. If you are interested in becoming a foster parent in Mississip...

Children deserve their day in court! For every allegation of abuse, neglect, delinquency, truancy, child in need of supervision or special care, the youth court decides the merits of the case in an ADJUDICATION hearing. The adjudication hearing is the "trial" in youth court. Parties are entitled to subpoena witnesses and be represented by an attorney. Parties can choose to admit or deny...

Judge Staci O'Neal and Judge Staci Bevill discuss what it takes to become a Youth Court Judge in Mississippi and the distinction between County Courts, Chancery Courts and Circuit Courts. All judges are required to go to "Judge School" after they are elected. In addition, all professionals, including judges, are required to have 12 hours of continuing education specific to juvenile j...

Judge Staci O'Neal and Judge Staci Bevill discuss the seven types of children and youth who are adjudicated in the Youth Courts in Mississippi. (Please pardon a few audio glitches along the way.)

Judge Staci O'Neal and Judge Staci Bevill discuss making decisions about juvenile detention. In Mississippi, a youth cannot be "taken into custody by a law enforcement officer" unless a Youth Court Judge or designee has issued an order to take the child into custody. (Miss. Code Ann. §43-21-301) Since only a fraction of Mississippi counties have juvenile detention facilities, the fin...

Judge Staci O'Neal and Judge Staci Bevill take you behind the scenes in a conversation about the Intake process for all cases in Mississippi Youth Courts. In Youth Court there is no Grand Jury or Indictment process before a felony type case gets to Youth Court. Abuse and neglect allegations are funneled from the State's Hotline to the County CPS offices and ultimately make their way to the...

Judge Staci O'Neal and Judge Staci Bevill take you behind the gavel to have a conversation about Disposition Hearings and various Disposition Alternatives used in their Youth Court. In the adult criminal world, it's called "Sentencing" but in the Youth Court world, it's called Disposition. Disposition is a time for the Judge to impose consequences that will serve the best int...

In this Podcast, Judge Staci O'Neal and Judge Staci Bevill introduce you to Youth Court UnSealed: A Look Behind the Gavel. Judge Staci O'Neal is a County and Youth Court Judge in Madison County, Mississippi and Judge Staci Bevill is a County and Youth Court Judge in Lee County, Mississippi. We hope to educate practitioners and the general public about Youth Court in hopes of giving listene...