Judge
The judge is the person who oversees the Care and Protection case. One judge is assigned to each case, and they will hear the case each time it comes to court. They are in charge in the courtroom and make decisions about the case. They decide who will have custody of the children in a case. They make the decision at the end of a motion or trial. Sometimes their decisions are spoken in the courtroom, and sometimes they are written decisions or orders.
Clerk Magistrate’s Office
The Clerk Magistrate and their staff have an office in the courthouse. They are in charge of keeping the record of the case safe. They have all the papers on a case. They put what happens in court in a secure computer system. They keep track of who comes to court. They get interpreters for people. They take care of the audio recordings of what happens in court. They schedule all court events. Motions and other paperwork for a case are filed in the Clerk’s Office. The staff in the clerk’s office can answer questions about attorneys, scheduling and events in the case.
Probation Department
The Probation Department has probation officers (PO) and support staff who help with Care and Protection cases. When a parent first comes to court, they meet with a PO. The PO will ask them questions to make sure the court’s records are correct. The PO will ask them about their income to see if they qualify for a free attorney. PO’s also help the court by visiting with children who are not living at home. If children are placed with a parent or someone else, the PO makes sure the custody orders are being followed. PO’s also help with drug and alcohol screens.