(1) The youth court prosecutor shall represent the state in all delinquency proceedings in the youth court. In child welfare matters, the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services or the youth court prosecutor may be the petitioner.
(2) The county prosecuting attorney shall serve as the youth court prosecutor in delinquency cases. An attorney for the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services or the youth court prosecutor may file petitions in child welfare matters. The district attorney may participate in transfer proceedings.
(3) All attorneys who serve as youth court prosecutors shall be required to receive juvenile justice training approved by the Mississippi Attorney General’s office and regular annual continuing education in the field of juvenile justice. The Mississippi Attorney General’s office shall determine the amount of juvenile justice training and annual continuing education which shall be satisfactory to fulfill the requirements of this subsection. The Administrative Office of Courts shall maintain a roll of youth court prosecutors, shall enforce the provisions of this subsection and shall maintain records on all such youth court prosecutors regarding such training. Should a youth court prosecutor miss two (2) consecutive training sessions sponsored by the Mississippi Attorney General’s office as required by this subsection or fail to attend one (1) such training session within six (6) months of their designation as youth court prosecutor, the youth court prosecutor shall be disqualified to serve and be immediately removed from the office of youth court prosecutor and another youth court prosecutor shall be designated.