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How Long Can Juvenile Probation Last in California?
Most juvenile probation in California is now capped at 12 months. Welfare and Institutions Code 602.05, added by AB 1376 and effective January 1, 2026, says a ward on probation cannot remain on probation longer than 12 months from the most recent disposition hearing unless a judge extends it after a hearing.
I have handled juvenile cases in Orange County for years, and the question I hear most from parents is when this ends. For the first time there is a real answer. At the Law Office of Katie Walsh, I am asking courts to apply it.
What AB 1376 Changed About Juvenile Probation
AB 1376 put an outside limit on how long a young person can stay on probation. Before 2026 there was no fixed limit on the length of probation itself, and supervision could stretch on while new violations produced new dispositions.
The section applies to a ward under Welfare and Institutions Code 601 or 602 who is on probation under section 727, whether or not a probation officer supervises them. The same law also rewrote the rules for conditions of probation, which must now be individually tailored, developmentally appropriate and reasonable, with the burden they impose proportional to the interests they serve.
When Can a Judge Extend Probation Past 12 Months?
A judge can extend probation past 12 months, but not quietly. The statute requires a noticed hearing and proof by a preponderance of the evidence that continuing probation is in both your child’s interest and the public’s.
The probation agency has to submit a report explaining the basis for the request. You get notice of that hearing, and it is one worth appearing at with counsel.
Which Wards Are Not Covered by the 12-Month Limit?
The 12-month cap does not reach every ward. It does not apply to a ward placed under the probation officer’s supervision for placement, to a ward while serving a custodial commitment to a juvenile hall, home, ranch, camp or forestry camp, or to a ward transferred out of a secure youth treatment facility.
If your child is in one of those situations, ask specifically how the limit applies rather than assuming the clock is running.
Why the Most Recent Disposition Hearing Matters
The 12 months run from the most recent disposition hearing, not from the day probation started. If a violation leads to a new disposition, the date that matters moves with it.
Nothing in the law stops a judge from holding progress reviews earlier, and in my experience asking for one is often the fastest route to ending wardship probation. The Orange County Superior Court juvenile division publishes its hearing information online.
Talk to an Orange County Juvenile Defense Lawyer About the New Limit
If your child has been on probation longer than a year, that is worth a phone call. Call my office at (714) 351-0178 or contact us online. As an Orange County juvenile defense lawyer, I will look at the date of the last disposition hearing and tell you whether this law applies to your child.
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