Adjudicated
A juvenile who is found to have committed Conduct Indicating a Need for Supervision (CINS) or delinquent behavior is considered "adjudicated." A juvenile is not found guilty of a crime, but is adjudicated.
Aggravated Assault
When a person causes serious bodily injury to the victim or uses or exhibits a deadly weapon during the commission of the assault.
Aggregated
The dollar value associated with crimes of theft, graffiti or criminal mischief may be added together raising the penalty level.
Arson
Deliberately starting a fire or causing an explosion with the intent to destroy or damage any property. Always a felony.
Assault by Contact
When a person intentionally or knowingly physically touches another knowing the victim will regard the contact as offensive or provocative.
Assault by Threat
When a person intentionally or knowingly threatens another with imminent bodily injury.
Assault with Bodily Injury
When a person intentionally, knowingly or recklessly causes bodily injury to another person. Bodily injury means physical pain, illness or any impairment of one's physical condition.
Burglary
Entering a home, building, property or motor vehicle without the owner's permission with intent to commit another offense.
Capital Murder
Murder of a child under age six, a peace officer or firefighter, or murder committed in the course of committing or attempting to commit certain felonies. May result in the death penalty if the offender was an adult.
Community Service
This is a term or condition of probation or deferred prosecution requiring a juvenile to work for or repay the community for his or her crime.
Conduct Indicating a Need for Supervision (CINS)
An Offense for which a juvenile can be placed on probation or fined, but not incarcerated.
Criminally Negligent Homicide
Causing the death of an individual by criminal negligence.
Criminal Mischief
Deliberately damaging or destroying another's property.
Criminal Trespass
Entering the property of another without the owner's consent.
Deadly Conduct
Any reckless act that places another person in immediate danger of serious bodily injury.
Deferred Prosecution
Deferred prosecution is an alternative to a formal adjudication of CINS or delinquent conduct. It is similar to probation.
Delinquent Conduct
An act committed by a juvenile that can be punished by confinement. A juvenile is not found guilty, but is found to have committed Delinquent Conduct. This term only applies to juveniles.
Determinate Sentencing
This type of sentencing may result in a juvenile serving time beyond his or her 21st birthday. After serving a minimum length of stay as a juvenile, an offender may be transferred to an adult prison facility to complete the sentence.
Disciplinary Alternative Education Program (DAEP)
Every school district is required to provide a setting outside of the regular classroom for disruptive or dangerous students. The student will have schoolwork to do and will be held to stricter standards of conduct.
Disposition
After a juvenile is adjudicated, a judge must decide what punishment, if any, is appropriate.
Dropout Prevention Programs
School programs to identify and assist students at risk of dropping out of school. Any student who feels he or she cannot handle staying in school should ask for help.
Excused Absence
An absence that has been approved by the school. A student may miss school for illness, family emergency or other good reasons.
Expulsion
Removal from the regular school setting (student is expelled) due to serious and persistent misbehavior in disciplinary alternative education or dangerous or illegal conduct.
Felony
A more serious offense, such as robbery, that may result in commitment to the Texas Youth Commission or certification as an adult.
Formal Removal (from class at school)
The teacher removes a student for disruptive behavior. The student cannot return to class without the teacher's consent, and the teacher or the campus discipline committee must agree that the student can control his or her negative behavior.
Gang
A loosely organized group of at least three people that commit crimes together. The Attorney General's website offers information about gangs, including an online brochure, Gangs and Community Response.
Graffiti
Permanent marking, painting, drawing, etching, engraving or scratching on property that has been made without the owner's permission.
Hazing
Any act occurring on or off campus that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of gaining or maintaining entrance into a group.
Informal Removal (from class at school)
The teacher sends the student to the office, but the student may return to the classroom if the teacher agrees.
In-school Suspension
The student will have schoolwork to complete and will be held to strict behavior standards.
Juvenile
A person who is ten or older but under the age of seventeen.
Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Program
Large counties provide an alternative educational setting for students who have been expelled from school or are placed their by court order.
Manslaughter
Recklessly causing the death of another person.
Minor
Term that refers to anyone under 21 years of age when used in context of alcohol beverage issues and under 18 years of age when used in context of tobacco products.
Misrepresentation of Age
Lying about how old you are or presenting any document that indicates a different age.
Murder
Intentionally or knowingly causing the death of another person.
Parent Contributing to Non-Attendance
Criminal offense committed by a parent when he or she fails to require his or her child to go to school. If you skip school, you could get your parents in trouble.
Progressive sanctions
Progressive Sanctions are sentencing guidelines established in the juvenile justice code. For a juvenile, the severity of the sanction, or punishment, progresses each time the child commits another crime.
Reckless Damage or Destruction
Damage or destruction of someone else's property that is the result of carelessness.
Robbery
Committing theft by force or threat of force.
Suspended Punishment
Sanctions are postponed until a juvenile has the opportunity to complete court ordered requirements.
Tampering With a Government Document
It is a crime for an individual to alter a governmental record. You could be charged with this offense for altering an ID to misrepresent your status (age) so you can obtain tobacco or alcohol.
Terroristic Threat
An action, statement or message that causes another person to fear that someone is going to commit violence to the other person or that person's family or property.
Theft
Unlawful taking of property with the intent of keeping it from the legal owner.
Truancy
Three or more unexcused absences within a four week period and ten or more unexcused absences within a six month period.
Unexcused Absence
An absence that has not been approved by the school. If a student has too many absences, he or she could graduate late or be required to repeat a class.
Vandalism
Another term for a property crime that causes damage to or destruction of another person's property.
