Iowa General Assembly Banner


232.46 Consent decree.

1. At any time after the filing of a petition and prior to entry of an order of adjudication pursuant to section 232.47, the court may suspend the proceedings on motion of the county attorney or the child's counsel, enter a consent decree, and continue the case under terms and conditions established by the court. These terms and conditions may include prohibiting a child from driving a motor vehicle for a specified period of time or under specific circumstances, or the supervision of the child by a juvenile court officer or other agency or person designated by the court, and may include the requirement that the child perform a work assignment of value to the state or to the public or make restitution consisting of a monetary payment to the victim or a work assignment directly of value to the victim. The court shall notify the state department of transportation of an order prohibiting the child from driving.

2. A consent decree shall not be entered unless the child and the child's parent, guardian or custodian is informed of the consequences of the decree by the court and the court determines that the child has voluntarily and intelligently agreed to the terms and conditions of the decree. If the county attorney objects to the entry of a consent decree, the court shall proceed to determine the appropriateness of entering a consent decree after consideration of any objections or reasons for entering such a decree.

3. A consent decree shall remain in force for six months unless the child is sooner discharged by the court or by the juvenile court officer or other agency or person supervising the child. Upon application of a juvenile court officer or other agency or person supervising the child made prior to the expiration of the decree and after notice and hearing, or upon agreement by the parties, a consent decree may be extended for an additional six months by order of the court.

4. When a child has complied with the express terms and conditions of the consent decree for the required amount of time or until earlier dismissed as provided in subsection 3, the original petition may not be reinstated. However, failure to so comply may result in the child's being thereafter held accountable as if the consent decree had never been entered.

5. A child who is discharged or who completes a period of continuance without the reinstatement of the original petition shall not be proceeded against in any court for a delinquent act alleged in the petition.

Section History: Early form

[C79, 81, § 232.46; 82 Acts, ch 1209, § 11]

Section History: Recent form

83 Acts, ch 186, § 10055, 10201; 94 Acts, ch 1172, §19

Internal References

Referred to in § 232.9


Return To Home Iowa General Assembly

index Search: Iowa Code 1995

© 1996 Cornell College and League of Women Voters of Iowa


Comments? webmaster@legis.iowa.gov.

Last update: Thu Feb 8 18:14:51 CST 1996
URL: /IACODE/1995/232/46.html
jhf