§12-15-211. Suspension of proceedings and continuation of cases under terms and conditions agreed to by parties.

(a) The juvenile court may suspend delinquency or child in need of supervision proceedings pursuant to a consent decree. The terms and conditions of the consent decree shall be agreed to by the child and his or her parent, legal guardian, or legal custodian. The consent decree shall be entered at any time after the filing of a delinquency or child in need of supervision petition and before the entry of an adjudication order. The child and his or her parent, legal guardian, or legal custodian shall be advised of their rights, including the right to counsel.

(b) Where an objection is made by the prosecutor, the juvenile court, after considering the objection and the reasons therefor, shall proceed to determine whether it is appropriate to enter a consent decree.

(c) A consent decree shall remain in force for six months unless the child is discharged sooner by the juvenile court. Upon application of a juvenile probation officer or other department or agency supervising the child, made before the expiration of the six-month period, a consent decree may be extended by the juvenile court for an additional six months.

(d) If prior to discharge by the juvenile probation officer or expiration of the consent decree, a new delinquency or child in need of supervision petition is filed against the child, or the child otherwise fails to fulfill express terms and conditions of the decree, the petition under which the child was continued under supervision may be reinstated after a hearing and the case may proceed to adjudication.

(e) Upon satisfaction by the child of the conditions of the consent decree or upon the child being otherwise discharged by the juvenile court, the petition shall be dismissed with prejudice.

(Acts 1975, No. 1205, p. 2384, §5-130; §12-15-64; amended and renumbered by Act 2008-277, p. 441, §12.)