Arizona § 8-327 - Transfer hearing

§ 8-327. Transfer hearing

A. The state may request an order of the juvenile court transferring jurisdiction of the criminal prosecution of any felony filed in the juvenile court to the criminal division of the superior court.

B. On request of the state that a juvenile be transferred, the court shall hold a transfer hearing before the adjudication hearing.

C. If the judge finds by a preponderance of the evidence that probable cause exists to believe that the offense was committed, that the juvenile committed the offense and that the public safety would best be served by the transfer of the juvenile for criminal prosecution, the judge shall order that the juvenile be transferred for criminal prosecution to the appropriate court having jurisdiction of the offense. The judge shall state on the record the reasons for transferring or not transferring the juvenile for criminal prosecution.

D. The court shall consider the following factors in determining if the public safety would be served by the transfer of a juvenile for criminal prosecution:

1. The seriousness of the offense involved.

2. The record and previous history of the juvenile, including previous contacts with the courts and law enforcement, previous periods of any court ordered probation and the results of that probation.

3. Any previous commitments of the juvenile to juvenile residential placements and secure institutions.

4. If the juvenile was previously committed to the department of juvenile corrections for a felony offense.

5. If the juvenile committed another felony offense while the juvenile was a ward of the department of juvenile corrections.

6. If the juvenile committed the alleged offense while participating in, assisting, promoting or furthering the interests of a criminal street gang, a criminal syndicate or a racketeering enterprise.

7. The views of the victim of the offense.

8. If the degree of the juvenile's participation in the offense was relatively minor but not so minor as to constitute a defense to prosecution.

9. The juvenile's mental and emotional condition.

10. The likelihood of the juvenile's reasonable rehabilitation through the use of services and facilities that are currently available to the juvenile court.

E. At the conclusion of the transfer hearing, the court shall make a written determination whether the juvenile should be transferred to the criminal division of the superior court for criminal prosecution. The court shall not defer the decision as to the transfer. If the court determines that the juvenile should not be transferred to the criminal division of the superior court, the court shall set an adjudication hearing.