The conference provides an opportunity for you and your child, the probation officer, a representative from your child’s school, clinicians, Department of Children and Families (DCF), (if involved with your family), and other identified people to provide the court with information regarding the best way to help your child. Everyone named above will receive notice of the date and time of the conference.
The probation officer will prepare a written report for the conference. Anyone else who’s invited may also present a written report.
At the disposition hearing, the judge will determine what orders should be entered to help your child. The judge’s orders may include:
- Allowing the child to remain with you, subject to any conditions and limitations the court may order, which may include arranging for medical, psychological, psychiatric, educational, occupational, and social services, and for supervision by a court clinic or by any public or private organization providing counseling or guidance services.
- Placing your child in the care of a relative or DCF, subject to any conditions and limitations the court may order.
The disposition order can last for 120 days. At the end of the disposition review hearing, the judge will review your child’s progress and either dismiss the case or extend the order for 90 days if the judge finds that the purposes of the order haven’t been accomplished and extending the order would likely accomplish those purposes. The judge may extend the order up to 3 times. After that point, the case must be dismissed. The total period of the disposition order, including all extensions, is 390 days.
