Overview of Iowa's Juvenile Court System

The juvenile court is a specialized court within the district court that presides over four kinds of cases related to children:

·         Child in Need of Assistance (CINA) cases most typically involve abused, abandoned, or neglected children, and sometimes lead to termination of parental rights.

·         Delinquency cases involve acts that would be considered criminal acts if committed by an adult.

·         Commitment proceedings involve the placement of a child in a hospital or other treatment facility for mental illness or a substance abuse problem.

·         Adoption.

Each year thousands of Iowa children come under the umbrella of the juvenile court. This outline is a brief overview of the juvenile court system and its procedures.