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A child in need of care (CINC) is defined at length in K.S.A. 38-2201 et. seq. The County Attorney's Office will initiate CINC proceedings upon recommendation from either DCF or any law enforcement agency, or from private parties. The goal of a CINC case is to provide for the safety and general welfare of the child. Reasonable efforts to keep a child in the home with their biological family are required by law, but ultimately the court may remove a child from the home if it is deemed in the best interest of the child. A private party may also initiate child in need of care (CINC) proceedings by filing their own action with the assistance of a private attorney. Generally, all children in need of care proceedings are confidential and are not open to the public. If you know any child that is the victim of neglect or of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse please call the DCF hotline at 1-866-495-6980.
The Saline County Attorney’s Office recognizes that juveniles who break laws are not necessarily “career criminals.” Without the benefit of a fully functioning adult brain, juveniles are more than capable of acting without contemplating consequences. First-time offenders may be eligible for programs that help keep a misdemeanor offense off of their permanent record.
Most juveniles without prior adjudications are eligible for the State’s Immediate Intervention Program (IIP), which if successfully completed will prevent a case from being filed by our office. If a “Notice to Contact” juvenile intake has been issued, it is important that you follow the instructions on the notice in order to receive the opportunity to participate in IIP. The first instruction is to contact the Community Corrections office within 48 hours to initiate the program.
If a case is filed by our office, it will be prosecuted under the Revised Juvenile Justice Code. All juveniles must be represented by an attorney. You may either hire an attorney or have the court appoint an attorney for the juvenile at the juvenile’s first appearance. Once the juvenile appears with his or her attorney, that attorney will guide you through the process of court and explain the options available based on the circumstances of your situation.
The County Attorney's office files truancy cases per K.S.A. 72-1111 and 72-1113. Any child is a truant that misses 3 consecutive days, or 5 days in a semester, or 7 days for the full year without an excused absence. Children under 16 are referred to the Truancy Review Board and then may be referred to our office. Children 16 and above will be referred by the school. Once our office receives a referral we file a petition and set a date for the truancy case to be heard before the Court.