What is a juvenile transfer hearing?

A juvenile transfer hearing is a hearing in Washington State which may decide whether a juvenile offender should be tried as an adult. The hearing is held before a judge who weighs evidence and arguments from both the prosecution and defense before deciding whether to transfer the juvenile offender to adult court. To transfer a juvenile to adult court, the juvenile must be at least 14 years old and the offense must have been a felony. Examples of felonies include murder, rape, assault, and robbery. During the transfer hearing, the judge considers factors such as the seriousness of the offense, the juvenile’s criminal history, the juvenile’s age and maturity, the likelihood of rehabilitation in the juvenile system, and the risk the juvenile poses to themselves and to the community. In addition, the judge will consider any mitigating factors that might influence the decision, such as the availability of supportive family members or mental health services in the community. In Washington State, the burden of proof is on the prosecution to prove that the juvenile should be tried as an adult. The prosecution must prove that there are no reasonable alternatives available to deal with the juvenile case in the juvenile justice system, and that the safety of the community or the defendant’s needs require that the juvenile be transferred to adult court. If the judge decides to transfer the juvenile to adult court, the juvenile will be arraigned in adult court and a trial date will be set.

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What is a juvenile transfer hearing?

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