26-7A-128. Admission or denial of alleged juvenile cited violation--Procedure.

If the state's attorney elects to proceed on the citation pursuant to subdivision 26-7A-10(3), the child shall be asked for an admission or denial of the alleged violation. If the child admits to the violation, the court shall accept the admission and enter a judgment pursuant to § 26-7A-129. If the child denies committing the violation, the case may be tried according to procedure adopted by the presiding judge of each judicial circuit and approved by the Supreme Court, but a jury trial may not be granted.

If the child fails to appear in court at the time set in the citation or set by subsequent postponement, the court may either issue a summons to appear and set a new date for hearing to show cause, the court may consider that failure to appear constitutes an admission to the allegations contained in the complaint and may accordingly enter a judgment for payment, or may grant permission to the state's attorney to file a petition pursuant to subdivision 26-7A-10(5).

If the child fails to comply with the terms of the judgment, the court may issue a summons to appear and show cause, or assess against the child's parents or guardians the amount of the citation and any restitution owed pursuant to § 26-7A-129 or may grant permission to the state's attorney to file a petition pursuant to subdivision 26-7A-10(5).

Source: SL 2015, ch 152, § 39, eff. Jan. 1, 2016; SL 2016, ch 146, § 2, eff. Mar. 25, 2016; SL 2017, ch 115, § 5, eff. Mar. 13, 2017.