Adjudication Hearings (Trials) in
California Juvenile Cases

In California juvenile delinquency court, a minor's trial is called an "adjudication hearing." This is the hearing at which a judge decides whether or not the minor violated a law and should be disciplined.

Many of the same rules apply in juvenile court as in adult court, except there are no juries (only judges) and things are conducted in a more relaxed manner.

Both sides can present evidence and make legal arguments. The prosecutor must prove that the minor committed the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.

Our California Juvenile Criminal Defense Attorneys represent minors in adjudication hearings throughout California. As former district attorneys who once prosecuted minors, we now use our inside knowledge to help minors win their cases and go home.¹

In this article, we explain what happens at your child's adjudication hearing (trial) in California juvenile delinquency court. We cover:

1. What is a juvenile court
adjudication hearing?

2. When will my child's adjudication hearing
take place?

3. What happens after my child's
adjudication hearing?

If you have further questions after reading this article, we invite you to contact us at Shouse Law Group for a consultation.

You might also be interested in reading our related juvenile justice articles Juvenile Criminal Defense in California, Police Questioning of Minors, Probation in California Juvenile Court Cases, The Juvenile Court Process in California, Detention Hearings in California Juvenile Cases, Fitness Hearings in California, Sealing Your California Juvenile Records, and Juvenile Crimes that Count as Strikes under California's Three Strikes Law.

1. What is a juvenile court adjudication hearing?

In California juvenile delinquency court, a minor's trial is called an adjudication hearing. Adjudication hearings are sometimes also referred to as "jurisdiction" hearings.

Whereas in adult court a defendant goes on trial and is found "guilty" or "not guilty" by a jury, in juvenile court a minor has an adjudication hearing at which a judge decides whether or not the minor violated a law.

If the judge decides that the minor violated a law, the judge finds the allegations to be true and "sustains the petition" filed by the prosecutor.

On the other hand, the judge may decide that the evidence is insufficient to prove that the minor violated any laws. In that case, the judge finds that the allegations are not true and does not sustain the petition.

The important thing to remember is that the adjudication hearing is the minor's opportunity to defend himself or herself against the charges being alleged. Things are not exactly the same as in adult court, but many of the important procedural safeguards apply:

• Your child can present a defense



• Your child can subpoena witnesses



• Your child has a right against self-incrimination and can either testify or not



• Your child has the right to effective assistance of counsel



• The prosecution must establish its case beyond a reasonable doubt

Let's look at an example:

Example: Ricardo is 16 years old. He is arrested for allegedly violating California Penal Code 459 pc burglary. He is allowed to go home on probation pending resolution of his case. His probation officer tells him that he must attend all of his classes and abide by a curfew.

Ricardo and his mother go to Eastlake Juvenile Hall & Court for Ricardo's arraignment. Ricardo pleads not guilty to the charges by denying the allegations in the petition. The judge tells Ricardo to return to court in three weeks for a trial on his case.

Ricardo and his mother return to Eastlake Juvenile Hall & Court on the appointed date. Ricardo's lawyer does a good job on behalf of Ricardo, but it turns out that the prosecutor has a stronger case.

The judge sustains the petition against Ricardo, finding that he comes within the jurisdiction of the juvenile delinquency court for violating California Penal Code 459 pc burglary. Ricardo is declared a ward of the court but allowed to go home with his mother to serve his time on home supervision.

2. When will my child's adjudication hearing
take place?

The law sets out deadlines for when adjudication hearings (trials) in California juvenile court must take place.

If your child is in custody, then your child has a right to have the adjudication hearing with 15 court days of the date detention was ordered.² Court days do not include weekends and holidays.

The timeframe is longer when it comes to adjudication hearings for minors who are not in custody. In those cases, the minor has a right to have the trial within 30 calendar days after the filing of the petition.

These timeframes can be extended only if there is good cause to do so and the minor "waives time" (that is, consents to the delay).³

Let's look at an example:

Example: Julian is arrested one night for violating California Vehicle Code 10851 vc vehicle theft. He is scheduled for an adjudication hearing on December 10.

On December 7, Julian's lawyer discovers an important lead in the case that could help Julian. Julian's lawyer prepares paperwork for the judge and prosecutor to request a continuance in the case.

Everybody arrives as planned on December 10 at Barry Nidorf (Sylmar) Juvenile Hall & Court. Julian's lawyer explains to the judge a bit more about the need for the continuance. He tells the judge that he needs one more week. The judge asks Julian if the extra time is ok with him and Julian says that it is.

The judge grants the continuance and tells everybody to come back on December 15.

Julian and his mother return to juvenile hall on December 15 for trial. Things go well. Julian's California Juvenile Criminal Defense Attorney was able to track down a key witness who comes to court to testify that Julian did not steal the car after all. Julian did not violate Penal Code 10851 pc vehicle theft.

It turns out that the whole case was fabricated because of a grudge from last summer between Julian and some kids from a rival school.

The petition against Julian is dismissed and Julian goes home with his mother.

Change the facts: Kerry is arrested for violating California Penal Code 451 pc arson on several occasions. Instead of taking Kerry home, cops deliver him to Riverside Juvenile Hall.

The next day Kerry has a detention hearing to see whether or not he has to stay in juvenile hall pending resolution of his case. The judge decides that Kerry has to remain at the Riverside Juvenile Hall until his trial because he presents a danger to the community.

Kerry is scheduled for trial 15 days later, on October 5. But on October 5, the district attorney decides to file charges against another minor as well, and asks the judge to continue Kerry's trial until October 25.

Kerry does not want to spend any more time in juvenile hall – just so the prosecutor can put together a case against someone else as well – so Kerry objects to the continuance.

The judge looks at the law and agrees with Kerry. The judge decides that Kerry must be released from custody because the trial on the alleged Penal Code 451 pc arson violations did not happen when it was supposed to.⁴

3. What happens after my child's
adjudication hearing?

If the judge sustains the petition and finds the allegations true at trial, then your child will be "sentenced" at a disposition hearing.

You can read about that in our related article Disposition (Sentencing) Hearings in California Juvenile Court.

If the judge finds that the charges are not true, then the case gets dismissed and your child is free to leave.

Our California Juvenile Criminal Defense Attorneys Can Help...

If your child has been arrested, we invite you to call us at Shouse Law Group for a consultation. We also invite you to review our related articles article Juvenile Criminal Defense in California, Fitness Hearings in California, Police Questioning of Minors, Detention Hearings in California Juvenile Cases, Fitness Hearings in California, Disposition (Sentencing) Hearings in California Juvenile Court, Probation in California Juvenile Court Cases, The Juvenile Court Process in California, Sealing Your California Juvenile Records, and Juvenile Crimes that Count as Strikes under California's Three Strikes Law.

Our related articles discuss the various juvenile halls and how to visit your child while detained at Eastlake Juvenile Hall & Court, Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall & Court, Barry Nidorf (Sylmar) Juvenile Hall & Court, Ventura County Juvenile Hall Facility & Justice Center, San Bernardino Central Juvenile Hall, Orange County Juvenile Hall.

Helpful links:

Prison Law Office

Center of Juvenile and Criminal Justice

Ella Baker Center Books Not Bars Campaign

Youth Law Center

Juvenile Law Center

Burns Institute For Juvenile Justice & Equity

Youth Justice Coalition

Healing Justice Coalition

Fair Sentencing for Youth

Violence Prevention Coalition of Greater Los Angeles

References

---

¹ Our California Juvenile Criminal Defense Attorneys have local Los Angeles law offices in Beverly Hills, Burbank, Glendale, Lancaster, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Pasadena, Pomona, Torrance, Van Nuys, West Covina and Whittier. We have additional law offices conveniently located throughout the state in Orange County, San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, San Jose, Oakland, the San Francisco Bay area, and several nearby cities.

² California Welfare & Institutions Code Section 657 provides: "(a) Upon the filing of the petition, the clerk of the juvenile court shall set the same for hearing within 30 days, except as follows: (1) In the case of a minor detained in custody at the time of the filing of the petition, the petition must be set for hearing within15 judicial days from the date of the order of the court directing such detention. (2) In the case of a minor not before the juvenile court at the time of the filing of the petition and for whom a warrant of arrest has been issued pursuant to Section 663, the hearing on the petition shall be stayed until the minor is brought before the juvenile court on the warrant of arrest. The clerk of the juvenile court shall set the petition for hearing within 30 days of the minor's initial appearance in juvenile court on the petition, except that in the case of a minor detained in custody, the petition shall be set for hearing within 15 judicial days from the date of the order of the court directing such detention. (b) At the detention hearing, or any time thereafter, a minor who is alleged to come within the provisions of Section 601 or 602, may, with the consent of counsel, admit in court the allegations of the petition and waive the jurisdictional hearing."

³ California Welfare & Institutions Code Section 682 provides: "(a) To continue any hearing relating to proceedings pursuant to Section 601 or 602, regardless of the custody status of the minor, beyond the time limit within which the hearing is otherwise required to be heard, a written notice shall be filed and served on all parties to the proceeding at least two court days before the hearing sought to be continued, together with affidavits or declarations detailing specific facts showing good cause for the continuance. (b) A continuance shall be granted only upon a showing of good cause and only for that period of time shown to be necessary by the moving party at the hearing on the motion. Neither stipulation of the parties nor convenience of the parties is, in and of itself, good cause. Whenever any continuance is granted, the facts which require the continuance shall be entered into the minutes. (c) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), a party may make a motion for a continuance without complying with the requirements of that subdivision. However, unless the moving party shows good cause for failure to comply with those requirements, the court shall deny the motion. (d) In any case in which the minor is represented by counsel and no objection is made to an order continuing any such hearing beyond the time limit within which the hearing is otherwise required to be held, the absence of such an objection shall be deemed a consent to the continuance. (e) When any hearing is continued pursuant to this section, the hearing shall commence on the date to which it was continued or within seven days thereafter whenever the court is satisfied that good cause exists and the moving party will be prepared to proceed within that time."

⁴ In re Kerry K., 139 Cal.App.4^th 1 (2006).

California Juvenile Laws Explained.....

Our Juvenile Crime Defense Attorneys In the News.....

Client Reviews

5 A Powerful, Effective Advocate to Have in Your Corner

In my time of need I called on Neil Shouse and his law firm. It was one of the best decisions I've made in my life. Not only did he step up to assist me, he went the extra mile in every sense of the word. I found Neil to be honest, professional, and tireless in his efforts on my behalf.

- Jay, a DUI client

Join us to discuss your DUI case at any of our
local offices: You can also contact us 24/7 at
888.327.4652 for a free consultation