What is the legal term for a juvenile's formal court hearing?

The legal term for a juvenile's formal court hearing is known as the adjudication hearing. This is a critical stage in the juvenile justice process where the court hears evidence and determines whether the juvenile has committed the alleged offense. During this hearing, the prosecution presents its case, and the juvenile has the opportunity to defend themselves, often with the assistance of an attorney.

The primary focus of the adjudication hearing is to establish the facts of the case and to determine the appropriate course of action based on the outcome. If the court finds that the juvenile has committed the offense, this hearing will lead to the next steps in the judicial process, which may include a disposition hearing where the appropriate consequences and rehabilitation measures are decided.

Other types of hearings, such as sentencing or detention hearings, serve different purposes within the legal framework. A sentencing hearing is more related to adult offenders, where the length and conditions of punishment are outlined after a conviction. A detention hearing typically occurs to determine if a juvenile should remain in custody while awaiting further court proceedings. Review hearings are generally scheduled to assess the progress of a juvenile's case after the initial adjudication, rather than as the formal adjudication of the charges themselves.