On March 19, the board of commissioners of Worth County held a regular meeting. After some changes to the agenda Judge Render Heard addressed the board. Heard came to give an update on the state of the juvenile court. A new juvenile code passed in 2013. The new code made a new class of children in the county. This new class is called dependent children. They were referred to as deprived children. Heard stated that Georgia is the last state to change the terminology. A class was also made called a child in need of services. That class is for a child who doesn’t fit in any other category. Heard stated this class was called “unruly children” until recently. The Judge stated these children often commit what is called status offenses. This is an act that is not a crime if the child were an adult such as smoking cigarettes. Heard stated that there was no one prosecuting the child in need of services cases. So, the juvenile court had someone trained to do so. That person is Matthew Dale. Heard stated the most significant problem the juvenile court faces is making sure every child that comes through the court has a parent or guardian and an attorney.
The board then went on to discuss the financial crisis that Worth County is facing.
Pick up the March 25th edition of the Sylvester Local News for the complete story.