Families in Need of Services (FINS) brings together resources for the purpose of helping troubled youth and their families to remedy self destructive family behavior or pre-delinquent juvenile behaviors.
The FINS program works with youth and their families. Many of the grounds for filing a FINS petition involve conduct that would not be a crime if committed by an adult, but when committed by a youth is grounds for a FINS adjudication. Some examples are truancy (not attending school), being ungovernable (not obeying parents or repeatedly breaking school rules), runaway behavior (being absent from home without parental permission), violation of law by a child under age 10. An offense such as theft or shoplifting is not a FINS offense; it is a delinquent offense.
Families In Need of Services Assistance Program Information from the Louisiana Supreme Court
Title VII of the Louisiana's Children's Code, starting with Art. 726
