November 3, 2006 |
2006-R-0633 | |
HEARINGS FOR JUVENILES OPPOSING TRANSFERS TO ADULT COURT | ||
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By: Ryan F. O'Neil, Research Assistant | ||
You asked which states require courts to include juveniles and their attorneys in hearings concerning a prosecutor's request to transfer their cases to the adult criminal docket.
A majority of states (46) and the District of Columbia allow juveniles accused of committing less serious felonies to present evidence and argue against a prosecutor's motion to transfer their cases to the adult criminal docket. Connecticut is one of four states that do not, although Connecticut is the only one that does not allow it under any circumstances. Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio bar such testimony in certain circumstances such as when the juvenile is of a certain age, has committed prior felonies, and faces charges of particularly violent crimes.
The primary difference among state laws permitting opposition testimony is which party bears the burden of proof. In 19, the prosecutor must prove, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the transfer is appropriate. In the other states, the juvenile must prove that it is not.
Table 1 shows the transfer laws in all states and the District of Columbia.
Table 1: Juvenile Transfer Laws
State |
Testimony Allowed |
Burden of Proof |
Testimony Not Allowed |
Alabama Alabama Code § 12-15-34, 34. 1 |
x |
State |
|
Alaska Alaska Statutes § 47. 12. 100, . 030 |
x |
Juvenile |
|
Arizona Arizona Rev. Statutes § 8-327, 13-501(B) |
x |
Juvenile |
|
Arkansas Ark. Code of 1987, § 9-27-318 |
x |
State |
|
California Welf. & Inst. Code Div. 2, Pt. 1, Ch. 2, § 7, 707 |
x |
Juvenile |
|
Colorado Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-2-518, 517 |
x |
Juvenile |
|
Connecticut CGS § 46b-127 |
State |
x | |
Delaware Del. Code, Tit. 10, §s 921, 1010, 1447A |
x |
State |
|
District of Columbia D. C. Code of 1981, Pt. II, § 16-2307, 2301 |
x |
Juvenile |
|
Florida Fla. Stat. , Tit. XLVII, § 985. 226, 227 |
x |
State |
|
Georgia Code of Georgia, § 15-11-39, 5 |
x |
State |
|
Hawaii Haw. Rev. Stat. Div. 3, Tit. 31, § 571-22 |
x |
State |
|
Idaho Idaho Code §§ 20-508, 509 |
x |
State |
|
Illinois 705 ILCS 405/5-4 |
x |
Juvenile |
x1 |
Indiana Indiana Code § 31-30-3-1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10 |
x |
State |
x2 |
Iowa Iowa Code § 232. 45, 232. 8 |
x |
State |
|
Kansas Kansas Statutes § 38-1636 |
x |
Juvenile |
|
Kentucky KRS Tit. LI, § 635. 020 § 640. 010 |
x |
State |
|
Louisiana La. Children's Code, Tit. III, Ch. 4, Art. 857 |
x |
State |
|
Maine MRS Tit. 15, Pt. 6, Ch. 503, § 3101 |
x |
State |
|
Maryland Code of Md. , § 3-817 Maryland Rule 913 |
x |
State |
|
Michigan MCL § 712A. 4 |
x |
State |
|
Minnesota Minn. Statutes § 260. 125 |
x |
Juvenile |
|
Mississippi Miss. Code 1972, § 43-21-157, § 43-23-29, § 43-23-31 |
x |
State |
|
Missouri Mo. Stat. , Tit. XII, § 211. 071 |
x |
State |
|
Montana Montana Code § 41-5-203 |
x |
State |
|
Nevada Nev. Rev. Stat. § 62. 080, 081 |
x |
Juvenile |
|
New Hampshire NHS Tit. XII, § 169-B: 24 § 628: 1 |
x |
Juvenile |
|
New Jersey NJS § 2A: 4A-26 |
x |
Juvenile |
|
North Carolina GSNC § 7A-608 |
x |
State |
|
North Dakota N. D. Century Code § 27-20-34 |
x |
Juvenile |
|
Ohio ORC Tit. XXI, § 2151. 26, § 2151. 23(H) |
x |
State |
x3 |
Oklahoma Okla. Stat. , Tit. 10, § 7303-4. 3 |
x |
State |
|
Oregon 1997 ORS Tit. 34, § 419C. 340 |
x |
State |
|
Pennsylvania 42 Pa. C. S. § 6355 |
x |
Juvenile |
|
Rhode Island Gen. Laws R. I. , § 14-1-7, 7. 1 |
x |
Juvenile |
|
South Carolina CLSC § 20-7-7605 |
x |
State |
|
South Dakota S. D. Cod. Laws § 26-11-4 |
x |
State |
|
Tennessee Tenn. Code § 37-1-134 |
x |
State |
|
Texas Family Code, § 54. 02 |
x |
State |
|
Utah Utah Code § 78-3a-603, -502(3) |
x |
Juvenile |
|
Vermont Vermont Stat. , Tit. 33, § 5506 |
x |
State |
|
Virginia Virginia Code § 16. 1-269. 1(A), -269. 3, -269. 4 |
x |
State |
|
Washington RCW § 13. 40. 110 |
x |
State |
|
West Virginia West Virginia Code 1966, § 49-5-10 |
x |
State |
|
Wisconsin Wis. Statutes § 938. 18 |
x |
State |
|
Wyoming Wyoming Statutes § 14-6-237 |
x |
State |
1 If the juvenile previous committed a felony, and faces charges that he or she committed another felony to further the criminal.
2 If the juvenile had previously committed a felony and then faces charges that he or she committed another felony
3 If the juvenile had previously committed a felony and then faces charges that he or she committed any offense; if the juvenile faces charges of murder and is 14-years-old or older; if the juvenile faces charges of murder, manslaughter, rape, aggravated robbery, aggravated arson, or aggravated burglary.
Source: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, “Trying Juveniles as Adults in Criminal Court: An Analysis of State Transfer Provisions” (updated through 10/20/06)