2023 Texas Statutes › Family Code › Title 3 - Juvenile Justice Code › Chapter 54 - Judicial Proceedings › Section 54.03. Adjudication Hearing

Sec. 54.03.  ADJUDICATION HEARING.  (a)  A child may be found to have engaged in delinquent conduct or conduct indicating a need for supervision only after an adjudication hearing conducted in accordance with the provisions of this section.
(b)  At the beginning of the adjudication hearing, the juvenile court judge shall explain to the child and his parent, guardian, or guardian ad litem:
(1)  the allegations made against the child;
(2)  the nature and possible consequences of the proceedings, including the law relating to the admissibility of the record of a juvenile court adjudication in a criminal proceeding;
(3)  the child's privilege against self-incrimination;
(4)  the child's right to trial and to confrontation of witnesses;
(5)  the child's right to representation by an attorney if he is not already represented;  and
(6)  the child's right to trial by jury.
(c)  Trial shall be by jury unless jury is waived in accordance with Section 51.09. If the hearing is on a petition that has been approved by the grand jury under Section 53.045, the jury must consist of 12 persons and be selected in accordance with the requirements in criminal cases.  If the hearing is on a petition that alleges conduct that violates a penal law of this state of the grade of misdemeanor, the jury must consist of the number of persons required by Article 33.01(b), Code of Criminal Procedure.  Jury verdicts under this title must be unanimous.
(d)  Except as provided by Section 54.031, only material, relevant, and competent evidence in accordance with the Texas Rules of Evidence applicable to criminal cases and Chapter 38, Code of Criminal Procedure, may be considered in the adjudication hearing.  Except in a detention or discretionary transfer hearing, a social history report or social service file shall not be viewed by the court before the adjudication decision and shall not be viewed by the jury at any time.
(e)  A child alleged to have engaged in delinquent conduct or conduct indicating a need for supervision need not be a witness against nor otherwise incriminate himself.  An extrajudicial statement which was obtained without fulfilling the requirements of this title or of the constitution of this state or the United States, may not be used in an adjudication hearing.  A statement made by the child out of court is insufficient to support a finding of delinquent conduct or conduct indicating a need for supervision unless it is corroborated in whole or in part by other evidence.  An adjudication of delinquent conduct or conduct indicating a need for supervision cannot be had upon the testimony of an accomplice unless corroborated by other evidence tending to connect the child with the alleged delinquent conduct or conduct indicating a need for supervision;  and the corroboration is not sufficient if it merely shows the commission of the alleged conduct.  Evidence illegally seized or obtained is inadmissible in an adjudication hearing.
(f)  At the conclusion of the adjudication hearing, the court or jury shall find whether or not the child has engaged in delinquent conduct or conduct indicating a need for supervision.  The finding must be based on competent evidence admitted at the hearing.  The child shall be presumed to be innocent of the charges against the child and no finding that a child has engaged in delinquent conduct or conduct indicating a need for supervision may be returned unless the state has proved such beyond a reasonable doubt.  In all jury cases the jury will be instructed that the burden is on the state to prove that a child has engaged in delinquent conduct or is in need of supervision beyond a reasonable doubt.  A child may be adjudicated as having engaged in conduct constituting a lesser included offense as provided by Articles 37.08 and 37.09, Code of Criminal Procedure.
(g)  If the court or jury finds that the child did not engage in delinquent conduct or conduct indicating a need for supervision, the court shall dismiss the case with prejudice.
(h)  If the finding is that the child did engage in delinquent conduct or conduct indicating a need for supervision, the court or jury shall state which of the allegations in the petition were found to be established by the evidence.  The court shall also set a date and time for the disposition hearing.
(i)  In order to preserve for appellate or collateral review the failure of the court to provide the child the explanation required by Subsection (b), the attorney for the child must comply with Rule 33.1, Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, before testimony begins or, if the adjudication is uncontested, before the child pleads to the petition or agrees to a stipulation of evidence.
(j)  When the state and the child agree to the disposition of the case, in whole or in part, the prosecuting attorney shall inform the court of the agreement between the state and the child.  The court shall inform the child that the court is not required to accept the agreement.  The court may delay a decision on whether to accept the agreement until after reviewing a report filed under Section 54.04(b).  If the court decides not to accept the agreement, the court shall inform the child of the court's decision and give the child an opportunity to withdraw the plea or stipulation of evidence.  If the court rejects the agreement, no document, testimony, or other evidence placed before the court that relates to the rejected agreement may be considered by the court in a subsequent hearing in the case.  A statement made by the child before the court's rejection of the agreement to a person writing a report to be filed under Section 54.04(b) may not be admitted into evidence in a subsequent hearing in the case.  If the court accepts the agreement, the court shall make a disposition in accordance with the terms of the agreement between the state and the child.
Acts 1973, 63rd Leg., p. 1460, ch. 544, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1973.  Amended by Acts 1975, 64th Leg., p. 2157, ch. 693, Sec. 17, eff. Sept. 1, 1975;  Acts 1979, 66th Leg., p. 1098, ch. 514, Sec. 1, eff. Aug. 27, 1979;  Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 590, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1985;  Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 385, Sec. 8, eff. Sept. 1, 1987;  Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 386, Sec. 3, eff. Sept. 1, 1987;  Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 262, Sec. 37, eff. Jan. 1, 1996;  Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1086, Sec. 10, eff. Sept. 1, 1997;  Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1477, Sec. 9, eff. Sept. 1, 1999;  Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1297, Sec. 22, eff. Sept. 1, 2001;  Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 283, Sec. 17, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.
Amended by:
Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 28 (H.B. 609), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2009.