What is the process of transferring a juvenile case to adult court?

In Washington, the process of transferring a juvenile case to adult court is a multi-step process that involves a hearing and a review of the juvenile’s case and can involve written reports, testimony, and evidence. The prosecutor is the party who files a motion in juvenile court that requests an order transferring the juvenile’s case to adult court. At the hearing, the prosecutor must show that the juvenile is not suitable for rehabilitation in the juvenile system or that the nature of the charged offense or the juvenile’s past behavior indicates that the juvenile is not amenable to rehabilitation within the juvenile system. The juvenile has the right to present evidence in the form of testimony and written reports that are favorable to his or her case. The court will weigh the evidence and consider the juvenile’s age and maturity level, as well as the seriousness of the offense. If the court decides to transfer the juvenile’s case to adult court, the juvenile will be arraigned in the criminal division of the same court. A judge in the criminal division will then hear the case and make a final decision as to whether to transfer the case to adult court or keep it in juvenile court.

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What is the process of transferring a juvenile case to adult court?

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