Opinion ID: 1092244
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 38

Heading: Appearances; Pleas.

Text: In delinquency cases, t The child, and in dependency cases, the child, the parents, or custodian, shall appear before the court at the time set and, unless a written answer plea has been filed, enter a plea, admit or deny the allegations of dependency or consent to the adjudication of dependency of guilty, not guilty, or, with the consent of the court, nolo contendere. (b) Preparation of Case. If, in delinquency cases, the child or, in dependency cases, the parent or custodian, pleads not guilty or denies the allegations of the petition the court may proceed at once to an adjudicatory hearing, or may continue the case to allow sufficient time on the court calendar for a hearing or to give the state or any party the child a reasonable time for the preparation of the case. (c) Trial by Judge. The adjudicatory hearing shall be conducted by the judge without a jury. At this hearing the court determines whether the allegations of the petition have been sustained. (d) Exclusion of Parties. No party shall be excluded from the hearing unless so ordered by the court for disruptive behavior, and any party shall have the right to examine the witnesses. (e) Right Against Self-incrimination, Child. Testimony. In all delinquency cases t The child may at his option be sworn as witness and testify in his own behalf. and shall in such case be subject to examination He may be cross-examined as other witnesses,. but n No child shall be compelled to give testimony against himself, nor shall any prosecuting attorney be permitted to comment on the failure of the child to testify in his own behalf. A child offering no testimony in his own behalf except his own shall be entitled to the concluding argument. (f) Right Against Self-incrimination, Parent or Custodian. In all dependency cases the parents or custodians who are alleged to have neglected or abused the child shall, if they so elect, be sworn and may testify in their own behalf. In such case they shall be warned that anything they say may be used against them at a subsequent criminal trial. They may be cross-examined as other witnesses. (g)(e) Joint and Separate Trials. In delinquency cases where When two or more children are alleged to have committed a delinquent act or violation of law, they shall be tried jointly unless the court in its discretion orders separate trials. (h) (f) Dismissal. If the court shall finds that the allegations in the petition have not been sustained, he it shall enter an order so finding and dismissing the case. (i) (g) Dispositional Alternatives. If the court finds that the evidence supports the allegations of the petition, it may enter an order of adjudication or withhold adjudication as provided by law. If the pre-disposition report required by law is available, the court may proceed immediately to disposition or continue the case for a disposition hearing. If the report is not available, the court will continue the case for a disposition hearing and refer it to the appropriate agency or agencies for a study and recommendation. If the case is continued the court may order the child detained, designate the place of detention or the agency that will be responsible for his detention. (j) (h) Degree of Offense. If in a delinquency petition there is alleged an offense which is divided into degrees, the court may find the child committed an offense of the degree alleged or of any lesser degree. (k) (i) Specifying Offense Committed. If in a delinquency petition more than one offense is alleged the court shall state in its order which offense or offenses it finds the child committed. ( l ) (j) Lesser Included Offenses. If in a delinquency petition the offense alleged necessarily includes lesser offenses the court may find the child committed such a lesser offense. (m) (k) Motion for judgment of dismissal. In all proceedings, if If at the close of the evidence for the petitioner, the court is of the opinion that the evidence is insufficient to warrant an adjudication, it may, and on the motion of any party, shall, enter an order dismissing the petition for insufficiency of the evidence.