Nevada Revised Statutes Section 62B.390 - Juvenile Justice

Certification of child for criminal proceedings as adult.

1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2 and NRS 62B.400, upon a motion by the district attorney and after a full investigation, the juvenile court may certify a child for proper criminal proceedings as an adult to any court that would have jurisdiction to try the offense if committed by an adult, if the child:

(a) Is charged with an offense that would have been a felony if committed by an adult; and

(b) Was 14 years of age or older at the time the child allegedly committed the offense.

2. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 3, upon a motion by the district attorney and after a full investigation, the juvenile court shall certify a child for proper criminal proceedings as an adult to any court that would have jurisdiction to try the offense if committed by an adult, if the child:

(a) Is charged with:

(1) A sexual assault involving the use or threatened use of force or violence against the victim; or

(2) An offense or attempted offense involving the use or threatened use of a firearm; and

(b) Was 14 years of age or older at the time the child allegedly committed the offense.

3. The juvenile court shall not certify a child for criminal proceedings as an adult pursuant to subsection 2 if the juvenile court specifically finds by clear and convincing evidence that:

(a) The child is developmentally or mentally incompetent to understand his situation and the proceedings of the court or to aid his attorney in those proceedings; or

(b) The actions of the child were substantially the result of the substance abuse or emotional or behavioral problems of the child and the substance abuse or emotional or behavioral problems may be appropriately treated through the jurisdiction of the juvenile court.

4. If a child is certified for criminal proceedings as an adult pursuant to subsection 1 or 2, the juvenile court shall also certify the child for criminal proceedings as an adult for any other related offense arising out of the same facts as the offense for which the child was certified, regardless of the nature of the related offense.

5. If a child has been certified for criminal proceedings as an adult pursuant to subsection 1 or 2 and the child’s case has been transferred out of the juvenile court:

(a) The court to which the case has been transferred has original jurisdiction over the child;

(b) The child may petition for transfer of the case back to the juvenile court only upon a showing of exceptional circumstances; and

(c) If the child’s case is transferred back to the juvenile court, the juvenile court shall determine whether the exceptional circumstances warrant accepting jurisdiction.

Last modified: February 25, 2006