Jurisdiction
The Hutchins Municipal Court has jurisdiction over juveniles (10-16 years of age) charged with Class C misdemeanor offenses.
- Juveniles are defined as persons who are under the age of 17.
- Minors are defined as persons who are under the age of 21.
Court Appearances
All juveniles are required to appear in open court for all proceedings in their cases. The Hutchins Municipal Court will mail a court date notice letter with the date and time the juvenile is scheduled to appear with their parent or legal guardian. The parent or legal guardian of a juvenile charged in Hutchins Municipal Court must be present in court with their child.
Failure to Appear
Juveniles who fail to appear in court with their parent or guardian may have an additional charge of "failure to appear" filed against them. Juveniles who fail to appear or who fail to pay their fine will be reported to Department of Public Safety, which will suspend or deny issuance of a driver's license. Juveniles who disobey a court order may be found in contempt and assessed a fine not to exceed $500 or referred to juvenile court for contempt. Parents who refuse to attend court with their child can have additional charges filed against them.
Expunction of Records
Convictions from this court are criminal convictions. You may be entitled to an expunction of the records in your case.
- Alcohol Violations - For a single conviction, you may petition this court for an expunction after your 21st birthday.
- Tobacco Violations - For Tobacco offenses, you may petition this court for expunction after successful completion of your tobacco order.
- Penal Code or Penal Ordinance - For a single conviction of any other non-traffic violation, you may petition this court for expunction after your 17th birthday.
In order to request an expunction, please fill out the application for expunction and submit it to the court (see Forms). There is a non-refundable fee of $30 that will be due at the time you file your application for expunction with the court. Please read the application to determine if you are eligible to request an expunction prior to filing.
For Parents and Guardians - Notification of Address Change
Warning: A child and parent required to appear before the court have an obligation to provide the court in writing with the current address and residence of the child. The obligation does not end when the child reaches age 17. On or before the seventh day after the date the child or parent changes residence, the child or parent shall notify the court of the current address in the manner directed by the court. A violation of this subsection may result in arrest and is a class C misdemeanor. The obligation to provide notice terminates on discharge and satisfaction of the judgment or final disposition not requiring a finding of guilt.