The North Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention was established in July 2000 as the first cabinet-level agency to focus on juvenile justice issues and at-risk youth in the state.

Thousands of youth encounter North Carolina's juvenile justice system through interaction with Juvenile Crime Prevention Council services, community programs, juvenile court services, and the DJJDP-Center for the Prevention of School Violence.

DJJDP works to provide the state of North Carolina with a comprehensive strategy that helps prevent and reduce juvenile crime and delinquency. This strategy focuses to strengthen families, promote delinquency prevention, support core social institutions, intervene immediately and effectively when delinquent behavior occurs, and identify and control the small group of serious, violent, and chronic juvenile offenders in the local communities.

In North Carolina, if a youth who is sixteen years of age and commits a crime then he or she will be tried as adult and will not be part of the juvenile justice system. If a youth is fifteen or younger and he or she commits a crime then his or her case will be brought to the attention of the North Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.

When a youth is suspected of committing a crime, a citizen or member of law enforcement can file a complaint against them. At this time, a youth goes through an intake process with a DJJDP juvenile court counselor, where complaints and evidence are evaluated. Court counselors then determine whether the complaint is serious enough to warrant court action, or obtain assistance from community resources when court referral is not necessary.

Within 2-4 weeks, the court counselor must make a decision whether or not to approve the complaint for court action. Serious felonies such as murder, rape, and burglary must be approved for court.

If it is found that there is no need for court action or referral to a community resource, the juvenile’s case may be closed. If the court counselor believes the youth may benefit from a community resource, a diversion plan or contract may be created with the youth and his or her parents.

Court counselors also work with undisciplined juveniles who are placed under protective supervision and with delinquent juveniles who are placed under court supervision. In each case, a juvenile's need for treatment and service is identified and local resources are mobilized.

Click to view a PDF flowchart of the NC Juvenile Justice System.