Montana Code 41-5-1302. Consent adjustment without petition
41-5-1302. Consent adjustment without petition. (1) Before referring the matter to the county attorney and subject to the limitations in subsection (3), the juvenile probation officer or assessment officer may enter into a consent adjustment and give counsel and advice to the youth, the youth’s family, and other interested parties if it appears that:
Terms Used In Montana Code 41-5-1302
- Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
- Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- Person: includes a corporation or other entity as well as a natural person. See Montana Code 1-1-201
- Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
- Writing: includes printing. See Montana Code 1-1-203
(a)the admitted facts bring the case within the jurisdiction of the court;
(b)counsel and advice without filing a petition would be in the best interests of the child, the family, and the public; and
(c)the youth may be a youth in need of intervention and the juvenile probation officer or assessment officer believes that the parents, foster parents, physical custodian, or guardian exerted all reasonable efforts to mediate, resolve, or control the youth’s behavior and the youth continues to exhibit behavior beyond the control of the parents, foster parents, physical custodian, or guardian.
(2)Any probation or other disposition imposed under this section against a youth must conform to the following procedures:
(a)Every consent adjustment must be reduced to writing and signed by the youth and the youth’s parents or the person having legal custody of the youth.
(b)If the juvenile probation officer or assessment officer believes that the youth is a youth in need of intervention, the juvenile probation officer or assessment officer shall determine that the parents, foster parents, physical custodian, or guardian exerted all reasonable efforts to mediate, resolve, or control the youth’s behavior and that the youth continues to exhibit behavior beyond the control of the parents, foster parents, physical custodian, or guardian.
(c)Approval by the youth court judge is required if the complaint alleges commission of a felony or if the youth has been or will be in any way detained.
(3)A consent adjustment without petition under this section may not be used to dispose of a youth’s alleged second or subsequent offense if:
(a)the youth has admitted commission of or has been adjudicated or sentenced for a prior offense that would be a felony if committed by an adult;
(b)the second or subsequent offense would be a felony if committed by an adult and was committed within 3 years of a prior offense; or
(c)the second or subsequent offense would be a misdemeanor if committed by an adult and was committed within 3 years of a prior offense, other than a felony, unless the juvenile probation officer notifies the youth court and obtains written approval from the county attorney and the youth court judge.
(4)For purposes of subsection (3), related offenses committed by a youth during the same 24-hour period must be considered a single offense.