1. After the filing of a petition which alleges that a child has committed a delinquent act on the basis of an alleged commission of a public offense and before an adjudicatory hearing on the merits of the petition is held, the county attorney or the child may file a motion requesting the court to waive its jurisdiction over the child for the alleged commission of the public offense.
2. The court shall hold a waiver hearing on all such motions.
3. A notice that states the time, place, and purpose of the waiver hearing shall be issued and served in the same manner as for adjudicatory hearings as provided in section 232.37. Summons, subpoenas and other process may be issued and served in the same manner as for adjudicatory hearings as provided in section 232.37.
4. Prior to the waiver hearing, the juvenile probation officer or other person or agency designated by the court shall conduct an investigation for the purpose of collecting information relevant to the court's decision to waive its jurisdiction over the child for the alleged commission of the public offense and shall submit a report concerning the investigation to the court. The report shall include any recommendations made concerning waiver. Prior to the hearing the court shall provide the child's counsel and the county attorney with access to the report and to all written material to be considered by the court.
5. At the waiver hearing all relevant and material evidence shall be admitted.
6. At the conclusion of the waiver hearing the court may waive its jurisdiction over the child for the alleged commission of the public offense if all of the following apply:
a. The child is fourteen years of age or older.
b. The court determines, or has previously determined in a detention hearing under section 232.44, that there is probable cause to believe that the child has committed a delinquent act which would constitute the public offense.
c. The court determines that the state has established that there are not reasonable prospects for rehabilitating the child if the juvenile court retains jurisdiction over the child and the child is adjudicated to have committed the delinquent act, and that waiver of the court's jurisdiction over the child for the alleged commission of the public offense would be in the best interests of the child and the community.
7. In making the determination required by subsection 6, paragraph "c", the factors which the court shall consider include but are not limited to the following:
a. The nature of the alleged delinquent act and the circumstances under which it was committed.
b. The nature and extent of the child's prior contacts with juvenile authorities, including past efforts of such authorities to treat and rehabilitate the child and the response to such efforts.
c. The programs, facilities and personnel available to the juvenile court for rehabilitation and treatment of the child, and the programs, facilities and personnel which would be available to the court that would have jurisdiction in the event the juvenile court waives its jurisdiction so that the child can be prosecuted as an adult.
8. If at the conclusion of the hearing the court waives its jurisdiction over the child for the alleged commission of the public offense, the court shall make and file written findings as to its reasons for waiving its jurisdiction.
9. If the court waives jurisdiction, statements made by the child after being taken into custody and prior to intake are admissible as evidence in chief against the child in subsequent criminal proceedings provided that the statements were made with the advice of the child's counsel or after waiver of the child's right to counsel and provided that the court finds the child had voluntarily waived the right to remain silent. Other statements made by a child are admissible as evidence in chief provided that the court finds the statements were voluntary. In making its determination, the court may consider any factors it finds relevant and shall consider the following factors:
a. Opportunity for the child to consult with a parent, guardian, custodian, lawyer or other adult.
b. The age of the child.
c. The child's level of education.
d. The child's level of intelligence.
e. Whether the child was advised of the child's constitutional rights.
f. Length of time the child was held in shelter care or detention before making the statement in question.
g. The nature of the questioning which elicited the statement.
h. Whether physical punishment such as deprivation of food or sleep was used upon the child during the shelter care, detention, or questioning.
Statements made by the child during intake or at a waiver hearing held pursuant to this section are not admissible as evidence in chief against the child in subsequent criminal proceedings over the child's objection in any event.
10. If the court waives its jurisdiction over the child for the alleged commission of the public offense so that the child may be prosecuted as an adult, the judge who made the waiver decision shall not preside at any subsequent proceedings in connection with that prosecution if the child objects.
11. The waiver does not apply to other delinquent acts which are not alleged in the delinquency petition presented at the waiver hearing.
12. If a child who is alleged to have delivered, manufactured, or possessed with intent to deliver or manufacture, a controlled substance except marijuana, as defined in chapter 124, is waived to district court for prosecution, the mandatory minimum sentence provided in section 124.413 shall not be imposed if a conviction is had; however, each child convicted of such an offense shall be confined for not less than thirty days in a secure facility.
a. Five years have elapsed since the final discharge of that person; and
b. The person has not been convicted of a felony or an aggravated or serious misdemeanor, or adjudicated a delinquent for an act which if committed by an adult would be a felony, or an aggravated or serious misdemeanor since the final discharge of that person.
Upon application of a person charged or convicted under the authority of this subsection, the district court shall order the records in the case sealed if:
[C79, 81, § 232.45]
85 Acts, ch 130, §1, 2
Referred to in § 232.8, 232.9, 232.11, 232.22, 232.45A, 232.89, 803.5, 803.6, 903.1, 904.503, 910A.15
Age of majority deemed attained for certain purposes during incarceration following waiver and conviction; see §599.1
Iowa General Assembly
Search: Iowa Code 1997
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