Probation in Orange County's
Criminal Justice System

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Stage Description
Arrest
  • Some offenders are arrested pursuant to a warrant issued by the Courts
  • Some offenders are arrested and detained by Police
  • Some offenders are arrested by a citizen and turned over to the Police
Detention
  • Adult offenders may be detained in a city or county jail pending arraignment, or cited and released and instructed to appear in court for arraignment at a future date.
  • Juvenile offenders may be cited and released and later instructed to appear before a Probation Officer for further determination.
  • Juvenile offenders may be detained at Juvenile Hall pending a Court hearing.
  • The Probation Officer may decide to handle the matter informally.
Prosecution
  • The District Attorney prosecutes cases in General or Limited Jurisdiction Superior Court and Juvenile Court.
Adjudication
  • Adult cases are adjudicated in General Jurisdiction Superior Court or Limited Jurisdiction Superior Courts.
  • uvenile cases are adjudicated in the Juvenile Court.
Court Sentencing Options
  • The Superior Court Judge may sentence the Adult defendant to State Prison, County Jail the California Youth Authority (CYA), or some form of Alternative Confinement.
  • The Adult defendant may also be placed on formal probation under the supervision of the Probation Officer, or informal probation without supervision.
  • The Juvenile Court Judge may declare the offender a Ward of the Court and sentence him/her to the California Youth Authority, Juvenile Hall, a Local County Juvenile Facility, a Private Placement Facility, or some form of Alternative Confinement.
  • The Probation Officer supervises Juveniles who are declared Wards of the Court if they are not committed to CYA.
Community Corrections
  • Supervision of Adult or Juvenile offenders is provided by the County Probation Officer and/or a State Parole Officer.