Opinion ID: 2449997
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The statutory transfer factors

Text: The General Assembly has established factors to be considered in deciding whether a charge against a juvenile should be transferred to the juvenile division of a chancery court. Although commission of a felony while armed with a firearm is a basis of concurrent jurisdiction of a circuit court over a juvenile, Ark.Code Ann. § 9-27-318(b)(2)(M) (Supp.1995), it is not one of the factors to be considered in making the transfer decision. Arkansas Code Ann. § 9-27-318(e) (Supp.1995) provides the factors to be considered as follows: In making the decision to retain jurisdiction or to transfer the case, the court shall consider the following factors: (1) The seriousness of the offense, and whether violence was employed by the juvenile in the commission of the offense; (2) Whether the offense is part of a repetitive pattern of adjudicated offenses which would lead to the determination that the juvenile is beyond rehabilitation under existing rehabilitation programs, as evidenced by past efforts to treat and rehabilitate the juvenile and the response to such efforts; and (3) The prior history, character traits, mental maturity, and any other factor which reflects upon the juvenile's prospects for rehabilitation. In making a transfer decision, a circuit court is not required to give equal weight to each of the statutory factors. Ring v. State, 320 Ark. 128, 894 S.W.2d 944 (1995); Williams v. State, 313 Ark. 451, 856 S.W.2d 4 (1993); Hogan v. State, 311 Ark. 262, 843 S.W.2d 830 (1992). The seriousness of an offense, when coupled with the employment of violence, is a sufficient basis for denying a motion to transfer and trying a juvenile as an adult. Sims v. State, 320 Ark. 528, 900 S.W.2d 508 (1995); Holland v. State, 311 Ark. 494, 844 S.W.2d 943 (1993); Wicker v. State, 310 Ark. 580, 839 S.W.2d 186 (1992); Slay v. State, 309 Ark. 507, 832 S.W.2d 217 (1992); Vickers v. State, 307 Ark. 298, 819 S.W.2d 13 (1991); Walker v. State, 304 Ark. 393, 803 S.W.2d 502, reh'g denied 304 Ark. 393, 805 S.W.2d 80 (1991). From the evidence before the Trial Court, it is apparent that consideration of factors (2) and (3), which were not mentioned by the Trial Court in comments from the bench or in the order, would favor transfer in this case. The focus thus must be upon the first factor. No doubt the offense charged is serious. Manslaughter is a class C felony. Ark.Code Ann. § 5-10-104(c) (Repl.1993). If Justin were convicted he would be sentenced to imprisonment for not less than three nor more than ten years. Ark.Code Ann. § 5-4-401(a)(4) (Repl.1993). The question then is whether factor (1) may form the basis of refusal to transfer absent a finding that violence was employed.