West Valley School District of Yakima

West Valley School District #208

Special Services

1000 South 72nd Avenue

Yakima, WA 98908
Telephone: 509.965.2080

Fax: 509.965.2127

Special Services Detail Information

What is..........

Failure to appear for court

If a student or parent or guardian fails to appear for a court hearing, the court may issue a warrant for the missing party if the following criteria are met:

A party asks that a warrant be issued.
The court is satisfied that the absent party had notice of the court hearing.
The absent party is old enough to make a warrant reasonable. (Usually if the student is under age 12, the warrant is better directed to an absent parent or guardian).

Detention Hearings
If a student is arrested on a warrant, s/he will be booked into the Yakima County Juvenile Justice Center . A detention hearing will be held within 24 hours (excluding weekends and holidays). The court commissioner will review the court file to verify that there is a basis for the warrant and explain to the student why the warrant was issued. The court will review bail and re-set the missed court hearing.

If an adult is arrested on a warrant, the juvenile court staff person will be notified by the Yakima County Jail or by e-mail from clerical. A detention hearing will be held within 24 hours (excluding weekends and holidays). The court commissioner will review the court file to verify that there is a basis for the warrant and explain to the parent or guardian why the warrant was issued. The court will review bail and re-set the missed court hearing .

Typically, the school district is not notified or present for these detention hearings.

The juvenile court staff person will notify all parties of the new hearing date and time.

Quashing Warrants ~ JUVENILE court process
If a warrant has been issued for the arrest of a party, that person may voluntarily come to court before being arrested and ask the court to quash the warrant. Usually the court will quash the warrant and reset the court hearing.