Washington County Circuit Court Division 8 was a newly created division in 2020.  Division 8 is governed by Judge Diane Warren.  Division 8 splits equally with Division 3, governed by Judge Stacey Zimmerman, all Juvenile Dependent Neglect, Family In Need of Services, and Delinquency cases. 

A “juvenile” is defined as a person who has not attained their eighteenth birthday and “juvenile delinquency” is the violation of a law of the United States committed by a person prior to their eighteenth birthday which would have been a crime if committed by an adult.

Juvenile Justice System:  The government agencies that function to investigate, supervise, adjudicate, care for, or confine youthful offenders and other children subject to the jurisdiction of the juvenile court.  It is a collection of state and local court-based systems whose purpose is to respond to young people who come into contact with law enforcement and are accused of breaking the law.

Mission

It is the mission of the Washington County Juvenile Court Division 8 to rehabilitate youth in order to live productively and responsibly in the community by imposing accountability and empowering families to respect each other and the rule of law.

Our Philosophy

It is our philosophy that juveniles who commit crimes can learn from the mistakes they made with the correct guidance as well as the education needed and chose the right direction to take their lives instead of living a life of crime. 

Our Goal

That in addition to maintaining public safety, are skill development, habilitation, rehabilitation, addressing treatment needs, and successful reintegration of youth into the community.

There are four main stages of the juvenile justice system:

1. Prevention programs for at-risk youths
2. Arrest for delinquency offense
3. Adjudication for delinquency
4. Juvenile correction programs

Alternatives to Detention Programs 

General Information

Diversions Program

FINS FAQ

Resources

Contact Us

Diane Warren
Circuit Judge

Washington County Juvenile Court

123 N College Av
Fayetteville, AR  72701

 479-695-1663 - phone
479-444-1749 - fax