It would be "the child's friends," who cannot refer a child into the system, since these friends have no legal status over the well-being of the child in question, although they can offer support.
The "child's friends" can not enter the "child" into the juvenile justice system because they do not have legal status over the child's welfare. Institutions such as the child's school or the child welfare agency have the legal status to send the juvenile justice system to anyone who requires it. Parents by law also have power over the child.
