Circuit Court Programs

Adult Treatment Court offers the Sixth Judicial Circuit Court a sentencing alternative for non-violent, felony offenders with serious substance abuse problems. This program addresses the underlying substance abuse problems that lead many offenders to engage in criminal behavior.

When custody of a minor child is disputed between parents during a divorce, the Friend of the Court steps in and evaluates who will be awarded custody. Following an investigation, the Friend of the Court considers the best interest of the child and prepares a report to help the judge determine who shall be custodian.

A program that allows specified court documents to be filed electronically with the Clerk's Office. The State Court Administrative Office provides a portal through which documents are electronically filed. You can find more information on the eFiling information page. Training on the system is provided in person, online or via video.

The Jail Tour Program provides a brief reality-based experience to 16 and 17-year-old court wards. For this group of soon-to-be legal adults, the message conveyed by the jail tour is that further offenses can exact a heavy toll on freedom and dignity.

Probation, or conditional community placement, provides judicial and psychological support to the juvenile while involving the offender in community service activities.

Law Day is May 1, a national day of observance to celebrate our legal heritage. On this day, we reflect on how our legal system affects the lives of every American and how the freedoms we enjoy would not be possible without an independent judiciary.

Oakland County Youth Assistance's Mentors Plus matches caring adults with young people who need a positive adult figure in their lives. Volunteers can choose to work with an at-risk youngster or they may want to become involved in delinquency prevention or intervention. Mentors help guide a young person with minor court involvement back on to the right track.

The Oakland County Circuit Court and the Oakland County Bar Association co-sponsor this ceremony, which is held biannually in May and November. The ceremonies, held in the Board of Commissioners Auditorium, recognize approximately 80 inductees taking the oath for admission to the bar.

Parenting time disputes are most effectively resolved by two parents. The Friend of the Court and the Oakland Mediation Center can assist you in resolving parenting time issues at no cost. Contact your Friend of the Court Family Counselor to see whether your case is appropriate for mediation.

A Personal Protection Order, or PPO, is an order issued by the Circuit Court. It may protect you from being hit, threatened, harassed, or stalked by another person. The PPO may also stop someone from coming into your home or bothering you at work. It can stop them from buying a firearm or finding your address through school records. It can also stop them from taking your minor children unless required by the court.

Removing the Mysteries of Probate Court - This seminar is sponsored by the Probate Court. Experts, including Probate staff and private attorneys, educate attendees on topics regarding Wills, estates, trusts, guardianships, conservatorships, and the new Probate Code. These discussions are held in the fall and spring at various community centers and are free to the public.

SMILE is a one-session program provided by Friend of the Court for separating/divorced parents with minor children. The program provides parents with information regarding the effects of divorce, the needs of their children, and offers help in promoting children's healthy adjustment to divorce.

The Court Psychological Clinic provides an adolescent group therapy program for participants of the Intensive Probation Program for approximately six months. These sessions concentrate on the areas of problem solving techniques, social skill building, and anger restraint training.

This project provides two days of intensive intervention for youth who are on probation and have committed a technical violation of their probation rules, such as curfew violation, school truancy, etc. Youngsters participate in work details and didactic programs on retail fraud prevention, anger management and communication skills, while receiving job training and attending group and family counseling sessions.

The intent of the U-Turn Program is to educate youth and their parents about the consequences of crime and the realities of prison life while reinforcing the value of making smart decisions (staying in school, abstaining from drugs and alcohol, making wise choices about peers, employment, parental involvement, etc.) in order to keep youth from having any further contact with the Juvenile Justice System. The program is a partnership between Oakland County Youth Assistance and the Oakland County Sheriff's Office.

Youth Assistance Program is community-based whose mission is to strengthen youth and families and to prevent and reduce delinquency, neglect and abuse through volunteer involvement. As a part of their probation, delinquent offenders are usually ordered to complete 30 to 100 hours of community service. Recruited community agencies agree to provide supervised work opportunities in which youngsters can serve their hours.