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

In Washington, the legal process of transferring a juvenile case to adult court is called “direct file”. This process begins when a prosecutor files a motion before the juvenile court requesting that the juvenile be tried as an adult. The prosecutor must prove that the juvenile is unsuitable for juvenile court and should have their case tried in adult court. If the motion is granted, the juvenile must be informed that their case is being transferred to adult court. The prosecutor must provide evidence that the juvenile is not suitable for the juvenile court system, such as the seriousness of the crime, the juvenile’s age and history of similar offenses, and the likelihood that the juvenile will reoffend. The prosecutor may also present evidence of the juvenile’s prior attempts at rehabilitation. If the juvenile court finds that there is sufficient evidence to support the direct file, the case will be transferred to adult court. In adult court, the juvenile will be tried as an adult and, if found guilty, sentenced as an adult. It is important to note that in Washington, a juvenile court judge is required to ensure that a transferred case is fair and that the juvenile defendant is adequately represented by a lawyer.

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

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