Ross County Court of Common Pleas
Juvenile Division
2 N. Paint Street, Suite A
Chillicothe, Ohio 45601
(740) 774-1177 - Phone             (740) 774-3711 - Fax

      
     The Juvenile Division of the Court of Common Pleas has jurisdiction concerning juveniles, including: delinquency, unruly, school truancy, juvenile traffic offender, alternative school assignments, dependency, neglect, abuse, and other juvenile matters.   This division also has jurisdiction concerning adults: custody, paternity, child support, visitation, and contributing to the delinquent and/or unruliness of a minor.  The Juvenile Division also has jurisdiction concerning adults in regards to school truancy matters: Failure to cause and compel the child under their charge to attend school regular in accordance with law, and aiding and abet to the unruliness of the minor by failing to cause the child under their charge to attend school in accordance with law.
    

Miscellaneous Forms and Information

Questions and Answers:

Question:

My child will not attend school.  What am I supposed to do?

Answer:

You can contact your local law enforcement agency for assistance or you can contact the Ross County Prosecuting Attorney's office for an appoint to file Unruly child charges against your child for their failure to attend school.  Note:  Recent changes in the law call for stricter enforcement on parents of children who fail to attend school in compliance with the Compulsory School Attendance Laws.

Question:

Two years have passed since my case was disposed of.  Can my record be sealed or expunged?

Answer:

Yes, for certain charges. There are specific charges that by Ohio Revised Code can not be sealed.  First, let me explain the difference between sealing and expungement. “Sealing a record” means to remove a record from the file of similar records and to secure it in a separate file that contains only sealed records accessible only to the Juvenile Court.  (If you have access to a sealed record, you are not to make mention of it.  It is as if this case does not exist.) “Expunging a record” means to destroy, delete and erase a record, as appropriate for the record’s physical or electronic form or characteristic.  This means that the record is permanently irretrievable.

If there has been no activity in your case for at least six months (this just changed from 2 years by SB337), you can apply to the Court to have your record sealed.  You must make an application in each case, if you have more than one case filed in this Court. You may apply for early expungement once your case has been sealed.

Question:

My license was suspended can I have occupational driving privileges?

Answer:

In some cases, you may be considered for occupational driving privileges.  You must make written application to the Court stating specifically the name and address of your school and/or the name and address of your work.  Note:  State law prohibits the granting of occupational driving privileges in certain cases.

Question:

I have a case before this Court and I want to be represented by a lawyer, but I don't feel I can afford one, can an attorney be appointed to represent me?

Answer:

You must come into the Court and present yourself to one of the clerks in the front office and file a motion for appointment of counsel.  At that time, you are also required to complete a financial affidavit.  No motion for appointment of counsel, will be considered until such time as the Court has a completed financial affidavit.