Juvenile District Judge, 314th Judicial District
Michelle Moore
Democrat
Philosophy
What is your philosophy on juvenile justice, and how do you balance accountability with rehabilitation for young people who appear before your court, including your approach to diversion programs and alternatives to detention?
My approach to juvenile justice is to integrate accountability, rehabilitation, and therapy into an individualized treatment plan for the youth. Alternatives to detention I have used are ordering a GPS tracking device (ankle monitor), regular video call check ins that are conducted at random times, and even house arrest when appropriate. Juvenile diversion programs are generally done in lieu of a petition being filed in court; however, deferred prosecution and deferred adjudication requests are heard in my court.
Alternatives
What, if any, alternatives to detention do you support for juvenile offenders? Please discuss program options, as well as when and how such alternatives can be used.
I support the Pre-Adjudication Team (PAT) release, a community-based supervised release in which the youth is supervised by a juvenile probation officer while awaiting resolution of the case. GPS monitoring, placing an ankle monitor on the youth's leg to track their movements, and 24 hour adult supervision are used as well. Some cases do not require intensive supervision and releasing the youth to their parent or a trusted adult is sufficient. Each case is different. Release options and supervision level depend on many factors.
