For referrals to juvenile court, within how many days must a law enforcement agency forward information including fingerprints to DPS?

• A. 5
• B. 10
• C. 15
• D. 20

Answer: (B)

Prompt, timely reporting of a juvenile referral to DPS, including fingerprints, ensures that background checks and records are current and usable for decisions by the court and other agencies. The statute is designed to require a short, fixed window after the referral for sending all essential information to DPS, so the agency has accurate data to work with and to avoid delays in processing and disposition. If the submission is delayed, fingerprints and related details may not be matched properly or could reflect outdated information, hindering timely action. On the other hand, a window that’s too short could be impractical for proper collection and verification of fingerprints and case details. So the answer reflects that brief, defined timeframe after the referral, aligning with the goal of prompt and reliable information flow to DPS.