Parentage: The Parentage Division of the Juvenile Court of Davidson County, Tennessee, processes and hears parentage, support, name change, custody and visitation cases involving parents who have had a child out of wedlock. This division also hears cases involving contempt matters that are filed for non-payment of child support arising out of parentage cases.
Orders of Protection: Davidson County Juvenile Court assumes the responsibility for executing Orders of Protection filed by a petitioner and respondent who are not married, but have a minor child/children together. The Juvenile Court Orders of Protection Program provides referrals and case management services to victims of domestic violence.
Community Outreach: Truancy & Educational Neglect (failure to attend school): This section of the Court provides casework on petitions that are filed by the Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) for educational neglect (under 13) and truancy (13 and over)
Family Services Division: Family Services provides advocacy, education, counseling, and case support products to families or children at risk or in need, so children can reside in a safe and permanent home. Petitions accepted by Intake include the following: agreed change of custody, material change of custody, private party dependent and neglect cases, emergency dependent and neglect cases, DCS safety plans and emergency removals, and private attorney emergency and long term petitions.
Family Treatment Court (FTC): Family Treatment Court is a collaborative effort with the Juvenile Court, Department of Children’s Services, community partners, and representatives of the Nashville Bar. The FTC has a dual purpose:
1. To reunite children who have been taken from their parent by the Department of Children’s Services due to dependency or abuse of substances 2. For the parent to live a life of sobriety
Community Outreach: Truancy & Educational Neglect (failure to attend school): This section of the Court provides casework on petitions that are filed by the Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) for educational neglect (under 13) and truancy (13 and over)
The Metro Student Attendance Center (M-SAC): M-SAC is an attendance intervention program operated and managed by Juvenile Court as the lead agency; in partnership with the Mayor’s Office, Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) and Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD). Its purpose is twofold: (1) process and work with students who are detained by MNPD for loitering during school hours, and (2) work with students identified by MNPS as being truant, having accumulated ten or more unexcused absences. The primary function of M-SAC is to address attendance concerns with the necessary services, thus diverting cases from Juvenile Court involvement.
Unruly: Probation officers works with children whose parents/guardians feel their behavior has become unmanageable. The probation officer will interview both the parent/guardian and child to determine how to assist the family with behaviors. Many times referrals will be made to various outside resources such as in-home services, counseling, parenting classes, residential treatment, and/or drug and alcohol services. It is the policy of this court that a family must complete some form of parenting classes or family counseling before the unruly petition is filed and seen by a Magistrate/Judge.
Child Protective Investigative Team (CPIT): CPIT consists of a group of child abuse professionals in Davidson County who investigate allegations of child sexual abuse. The Court has two trained probation officers to monitor those juveniles who have been charged from these CPIT investigations. They work closely with the Court and various agencies in the community to provide a safe environment.
Divert Unit: Divert probation officers handle first time offender minor cases without formally typing the charges. A child may be given community resource information or consequences that must be completed by the deadline to have the case ended with no formal charges filed.
Informal Adjustment: is similar to pretrial diversion as probation officers work with low-level delinquent offenders within a period of 3 months.
Juvenile Drug Court: Juvenile Drug Court is an opportunity for those that have been unsuccessful on regular Probation due to alcohol and drug issues. It is much like intensive probation with regular Court appearances, weekly urine drug screens and assistance to help the child achieve sobriety.
Pretrial Diversion: Pretrial probation officers work with those children who have received low-level delinquent charges. He/she is required to complete conditions such as community service work, random drug screens, and/or educational classes. When he/she successfully completes their conditions, the court will dismiss the charges. This program lasts up to 6 months.
Supervised Probation: Probation officers work with those children who the court adjudicated with higher-level delinquent offenses or who were unsuccessful completing conditions on a lower level of intervention. Unlike lower level of intervention, the probationer is supervised. The probation officer makes regular visits to the home, school and makes regular curfew checks to assure the court that the child is following the restriction and rules of the Court.
Foster Care Review Board (FCRB): Pursuant to state and federal law citizen volunteers review case Foster Care plans provided by the Department of Children’s Services to assure that children in state custody achieve a safe and permanent home as soon as possible.
Internships: The Juvenile Court accepts student interns from local colleges and universities who need to complete their required internship hours. The intern is assigned to an intern supervisor in his/her chosen field of work. Student experiences are provided by working with diverse at-risk populations that will prepare them for professional practice after graduation.
Juvenile Court Safety and Security Program: The purpose of the Juvenile Court Safety and Security Program is to provide safety and security to customers, visitors, and employees of Juvenile Court so they can safely conduct their business without disturbance, detractions, and delays or incidents.
Mediation Services of Juvenile Court: Mediation is a form of alternative dispute resolution in which the disputing parties have input into the resolution of the problem instead of a third party deciding the outcome. Mediations are held in a non-adversarial setting where all stakeholders have an opportunity to communicate with each other regarding the issues of their dispute.
Service of Process Program: Service of process program is to provide (statutorily required and face-to-face) personal legal notice to individuals with business before the court so they can participate effectively in the court process.
Volunteers: The Juvenile Court has various volunteer opportunities. All Volunteers must submit to a required background check before being assigned a position. The largest volunteer program of the Juvenile Court is the Foster Care Review Board Program (FCRB). Download the Volunteer Application Here or from the Forms and Publication page.
