Frequently Asked Questions

Unofficial Court

Q. What is Unofficial Court?

A. Unofficial means that you will not have a permanent juvenile record. A juvenile has only one opportunity to have a case heard in Unofficial. It's a one-time chance. You have the option to have an attorney during an Unofficial hearing, although it is not necessary.

Q. What's the difference between Official and Unofficial?

Official	Unofficial
Obtain record	No permanent record
May have multiple hearings (continuances, pleas, etc.)	One hearing permitted at this level

Q. How long does it take for the hearing?

A. Hearings are scheduled in fifteen-minute intervals. However, each hearing is different, and some hearings may take longer. Timeframes vary on a day-to-day basis.

Q. Who is eligible to have a hearing in Unofficial?

A. A juvenile under the age of eighteen with a first-time minor offense in Hamilton County Juvenile Court.