What is the purpose of the adjudication hearing in Arizona juvenile delinquency or incorrigibility proceedings?

• A. To determine whether the juvenile committed the acts alleged
• B. To determine the juvenile's readiness for rehabilitation
• C. To assess the seriousness of the allegation for charging purposes
• D. To decide the appropriate disposition without trial

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is that the adjudication hearing is the fact-finding step. In Arizona’s juvenile delinquency and incorrigibility proceedings, this hearing decides whether the juvenile actually committed the acts that are alleged. It’s the stage where the court evaluates evidence to determine if the alleged conduct occurred, much like a trial in adult court.

Dispositional matters, such as rehabilitation plans or penalties, come after adjudication. So readiness for rehabilitation is a question for the disposition phase, not the adjudication. Similarly, the seriousness of the allegation for charging purposes is about how the case was charged and handled earlier in the process, not about whether the acts occurred. And deciding disposition without trial would skip the essential fact-finding step; the disposition follows only after adjudication determines the acts were committed.

So, the adjudication hearing’s purpose is to determine whether the juvenile committed the acts alleged.