Q: can my son be petitioned to juvenile court for not signing something saying he’s guilty of something he’s not?
my 12 yr old was asked to sign a station adjustment for an alleged battery and I told them no, so they want to petition Him to juvenile court. Does this mean he will be arrested? Do I need to bring him in when he didn’t commit the crime or will they issue a warrant?
A:
Yes. It means he will be charged with an offense and go to juvenile court to answer to it.
He can have an adjudication hearing, which is a bench trial where the State has to prove to the judge that he is delinquent (guilty) beyond a reasonable doubt.
If he is found not delinquent, the case is over. If on the other hand, he is found delinquent, the judge can sentence him to supervision, probation, time in the juvenile temporary detention center, or to juvenile prison.
He needs a lawyer at this point.
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