The Juvenile Court is a division of the Riverside Superior Court handling both dependency and delinquency matters.
Proceedings involve the protection of children who have been or are at risk of being abused, neglected, or abandoned.
Proceedings involve children under the age of 18 alleged to have committed a delinquent act, which would be a crime if committed by an adult.
The Juvenile Dependency Court is responsible for processing all matters involving minors under the age of 18, which have been a victim of neglect or abuse by their guardians or parents. The main goal of the Dependency Court is to provide safety for these children and to ensure that the children receive a permanent home, either through re-unification with their parents, long term foster care or through adoption.
The Juvenile Delinquency Court handles proceedings that involve most persons under the age of 18 who have been alleged to have committed a violation of a law or statute. The purpose of the delinquency court is to protect the community from children who commit acts of delinquency.
The traffic division processes juvenile cases involving only infractions.
You may pay a traffic infraction by telephone or online, or in person unless the citation indicates it is a mandatory appearance. If a mandatory appearance is required minors must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
All other cases, including non-traffic misdemeanor charges are processed at Juvenile Court.
The Riverside County Juvenile Court limits access to juvenile court records in accordance with Welfare & Institution Code Section 827. Juvenile records are restricted to the minor, parents or guardians, attorneys involved in the case and court personnel. Photo identification is required to inspect, obtain, or copy juvenile court records.
Authorization is needed for any other person or entity not outlined in Welfare & Institution Code Section 827 or California Rule of Court 5.552, to inspect, obtain, or copy juvenile court records. Only a judicial officer of the juvenile court may order authorization.
Juvenile case files or court records may not be obtained or inspected by civil or criminal subpoena.
Every person or agency seeking to inspect or obtain juvenile court records must petition the court for authorization using Petition for Access to Juvenile Case File (JV-570) (pdf ).
You must specify the records sought based on knowledge, information, and belief that such records exist and are relevant to the purpose for which they are being sought.
You must describe in detail the reasons the records are being sought and their relevancy to the proceeding or purpose for which you wish to inspect or obtain the records.
The other judicial council forms you will need to fill-out and present to the court, along with the Petition for Access to Juvenile Case File (JV-570), are as follows:
At least 10 days before the Petition for Access to Juvenile Case File (form JV-570) is submitted to the court, you must personally, or by first-class mail, serve the following documents:
on the following individuals:
If you are unsure of the identity or address of any of the persons that need to be served, see the court clerk for assistance.
Once you have served the Petition for Access to Juvenile Case File (JV-570) (pdf ), the Notice of Petition for Access to Juvenile Case File (JV-571) (pdf ) and a blank copy of Objection to Release of Juvenile Case File (JV-572) (pdf ), you must complete the ‘Proof of Service - Petition for Access to Juvenile Case File (JV-569) (pdf ).
You will then submit the following completed documents to the juvenile court for the judicial officer’s review:
There is no filing fee for these documents.
After carefully review and consideration, the judicial officer will either grant, deny or set the matter for a hearing. If the matter is scheduled for a hearing, the clerk will notify you.
Click here for a Petition for Access to Juvenile Case File Checklist (pdf ).
There are various costs associated with juvenile cases. In juvenile delinquency cases, the minor and/or parent(s) could be responsible for the full amount of victim restitution. In dependency cases the parents could be responsible for costs for attorney’s fees.
The court provides waiting rooms for children who are on the court’s calendar for the day at the Riverside Juvenile, Southwest Justice Center (Murrieta), and the Southwest Juvenile courthouses.
Please review the court’s policies and procedures regarding the waiting rooms(pdf ).
The Riverside County Tribal Alliance for Indian Children and Families is dedicated to increasing participation, communication, and understanding among the Court, the Tribes, and County agencies serving Native American families. The Alliance was formed in 2005 under the leadership of the Riverside Superior Court. The goal is to minimize Court and County intervention and increase Tribal participation and control over Native American children and families by developing culturally appropriate services. Alliance members are working to create and sustain partnerships founded upon understanding, communication, and cultural awareness among the sovereign tribal nations and community and governmental agencies.
The Alliance meets three times a year. Meetings are hosted by Alliance members and include presentations and discussions involving cultural awareness issues and Tribal programs. The Alliance has developed work groups that meet regularly throughout the year to discuss Tribal and Court issues. These workgroups are: Tribal Expert Witnesses; Standing Education Committee; Placement and Foster Care; and Domestic Violence.
The Tribal Alliance sees this as an opportunity to collaborate for the betterment of children in Riverside County.
Minimize Court and County intervention and increase Tribal participation and control by developing culturally appropriate services for Native American children and families.
To create and sustain partnerships founded upon understanding, communication, and cultural awareness among the sovereign tribal nations and community and governmental agencies.
The next Riverside County Tribal Alliance Meeting is scheduled for Friday, April 26, 2019 from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm at Morongo Tribal Hall, 11555 Potrero Road, Banning, CA 92220.
Juvenile Court cases are confidential. Access to juvenile records is restricted to the minor, parents, or guardians, and/or the attorneys involved in the case. Photo identification is required.
Requests for copies may be made in person at the Juvenile Court location where the case is filed.
If the search takes more than 10 minutes, a fee of $15.00 will be assessed pursuant to Government Code section 70627(c) for each search conducted. The fee for copies is $.50 per page and if certification is requested, an additional $40.00 per document will be assessed. The court does not charge for copies when the minor is making the request.
When requesting copies, please provide the following information:
Depending on the extent of the records needing research, court staff makes every attempt to accommodate the requesting party while he/she waits.
Copies of Juvenile records CANNOT be requested by mail.
For more information about the Riverside County Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention Commission please visit the JJDPC Website (external site ).