In the juvenile justice process, which step starts the case?

• A. Petition Files Charges
• B. Disposition
• C. Intake
• D. Adjudication

Answer: (C)

The step that starts the case is the intake stage. After a juvenile is referred or arrested, intake staff review the information, gather needed details, and decide what should happen next—whether to proceed with a formal petition, pursue diversion, or dismiss. This intake decision is what launches the case into the formal process.

A petition filing occurs after intake and is the formal document that brings the case into court. Adjudication comes later and is the court’s determination of delinquency after a hearing. Disposition happens after adjudication and involves deciding the outcome for the juvenile, such as probation or treatment.