5 Status offense petition

Here's a plain English summary of this rule:

When a child is accused of a status offense (something that's only against the law because of the child's age, like skipping school or running away), the county attorney can start a formal court case by filing a document called a Juvenile Petition. This can happen in three situations: the FAIR team recommends moving forward with court, the child themselves asks for a formal hearing instead of another option, or the child doesn't qualify for diversion (an alternative to going through the full court process).

Along with the petition, the county attorney must attach the original complaint. This complaint needs to have a signature from the person who made it, confirming it's true. Any other paperwork that supports the case, along with any citation the child received, must be attached too.

This rule matters because it explains how a status offense case officially becomes a court matter. If you're a parent or a child going through this process, it tells you what steps lead to a formal hearing and what paperwork the court will have on file about the case.