938.02 Definitions. In this chapter: (1) “Adult” means a person who is 18 years of age or older, except that for purposes of investigating or prosecuting a person who is alleged to have violated any state or federal criminal law or any civil law or municipal ordinance, “adult” means a person who has attained 17 years of age. (1g) “Age or developmentally appropriate activities” means activities that are generally accepted as suitable for juveniles of a given chronological age or level of maturity or that are determined to be developmentally appropriate for a juvenile based on the cognitive, emotional, physical, and behavioral capacities that are typical for juveniles of a given age or age group or, in the case of a specific juvenile, activities that are suitable for the juvenile based on the cognitive, emotional, physical, and behavioral capacities of that juvenile. (1m) “Alcoholism” has the meaning given in s. 51.01 (1m). (1p) “Alcohol or other drug abuse impairment” means a condition of a person which is exhibited by characteristics of habitual lack of self-control in the use of alcohol beverages, controlled substances or controlled substance analogs to the extent that the person’s health is substantially affected or endangered or the person’s social or economic functioning is substantially disrupted. (1s) “Approved treatment facility” has the meaning given in s. 51.01 (2). (2d) “Controlled substance” has the meaning given in s. 961.01 (4). (2e) “Controlled substance analog” has the meaning given in s. 961.01 (4m). (2f) “Coordinated services plan of care” has the meaning given in s. 46.56 (1) (cm). (2g) “County department” means a county department under s. 46.215, 46.22 or 46.23, unless the context requires otherwise. (2m) “Court,” when used without further qualification, means the court assigned to exercise jurisdiction under this chapter and ch. 48 or, when used with reference to a juvenile who is subject to s. 938.183, a court of criminal jurisdiction or, when
May 22, 2026, are designated by NOTES. (Published 5-22-26)
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used with reference to a juvenile who is subject to s. 938.17 (2), a municipal court. (3) “Court intake worker” means any person designated to provide intake services under s. 938.067. (3m) “Delinquent” means a juvenile who is 10 years of age or older who has violated any state or federal criminal law, except as provided in ss. 938.17, 938.18 and 938.183, or who has committed a contempt of court, as defined in s. 785.01 (1), as specified in s. 938.355 (6g). (4) “Department” means the department of children and families except that with respect to a juvenile who is under the supervision of the department of corrections under s. 938.183, 938.34 (4h) or (7g), or 938.357 (3) or (4), “department” means the department of corrections. (5) “Developmental disability” has the meaning given in s. 51.01 (5). (5g) “Drug dependent” has the meaning given in s. 51.01 (8b). (6) “Foster home” means any facility that is operated by a person required to be licensed by s. 48.62 (1) and that provides care and maintenance for no more than 4 juveniles or, if necessary to enable a sibling group to remain together, for no more than 6 juveniles or, if the department promulgates rules permitting a different number of juveniles, for the number of juveniles permitted under those rules. (6m) “Governing body of a private school” has the meaning given in s. 115.001 (3d). (7) “Group home” means any facility operated by a person required to be licensed by the department under s. 48.625 for the care and maintenance of 5 to 8 juveniles. (8) “Guardian” means the person named by the court having the duty and authority of guardianship. (8b) “Habitual truant” has the meaning given in s. 118.16 (1) (a). (8d) “Indian” means any person who is a member of an Indian tribe or who is an Alaska native and a member of a regional corporation, as defined in 43 USC 1606. (8e) “Indian custodian” means an Indian person who has legal custody under tribal law or custom or under state law of an Indian juvenile who is the subject of an Indian juvenile custody proceeding, as defined in s. 938.028 (2) (b), or of an Indian juvenile in need of protection or services under s. 938.13 (4), (6), (6m), or (7) who is the subject of a temporary physical custody proceeding under ss. 938.19 to 938.21 or to whom temporary physical care, custody, and control has been transferred by the parent of that juvenile. (8g) “Indian juvenile” means an unmarried person who is under 18 years of age and who is affiliated with an Indian tribe in any of the following ways: (a) As a member of the Indian tribe. (b) As a person who is eligible for membership in an Indian tribe and is the biological child of a member of an Indian tribe. (8m) “Indian juvenile’s tribe” means one of the following: (a) The Indian tribe in which an Indian juvenile is a member or eligible for membership. (b) In the case of an Indian juvenile who is a member of or eligible for membership in more than one tribe, the Indian tribe with which the Indian juvenile has the more significant contacts. (8r) “Indian tribe” means any Indian tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community of Indians that is recognized as eligible for the services provided to Indians by the U.S. secretary of the interior because of Indian status, including any Alaska native village, as defined in 43 USC 1602 (c).
JUVENILE JUSTICE CODE
938.02
(10) “Judge,” if used without further qualification, means the judge of the court assigned to exercise jurisdiction under this chapter and ch. 48 or, if used with reference to a juvenile who is subject to s. 938.183, the judge of the court of criminal jurisdiction or, when used with reference to a juvenile who is subject to s.