The Juvenile Division of the Hardin County Common Pleas Court, located on the Second Floor of the Hardin County Courthouse in Kenton, Ohio, is dedicated to impartial justice, community well-being, and partnerships that empower and support youth and families by providing respectful, quality and timely services.
The Juvenile Court hears cases involving persons under 18 years of age for:
- Being an unruly child (truant, tobacco use, curfew)
- An abused, dependent, and neglected child
- Traffic violations
- Educational neglect
- Civil protection orders (CPO)
- Felony and misdemeanor offenses (delinquent child)
The Court also hears adult cases involving contributing to the delinquency of a minor and custody, child support, and visitation of unmarried parents (paternity).
Although there is a court of common pleas in each of Ohio's 88 counties, Hardin County is one of 71 courts that have both a probate and juvenile division. The Courts of Common Pleas are established by the Ohio Constitution in Article IV, Section 1, while the Juvenile Courts are specialized divisions which were created by the Ohio Revised Code.
Judges of the Courts of Common Pleas are elected in odd-numbered years to six year terms on a nonpartisan ballot. A person must be an attorney licensed to practice law for at least six years to be eligible to be elected or appointed as a judge. The Governor makes appointments to fill vacancies in courts of common pleas that occur between elections.