Adjudication
The adjudicatory, or fact-finding, hearing looks very much like the trial of an adult, except that all juvenile cases are heard by a judge, never a jury. In a delinquency case, the juvenile always is represented by an attorney. Formal rules of evidence apply, and to find a juvenile delinquent, the judge must make findings "beyond a reasonable doubt"—the same standard that applies in adult criminal trials.
Statements that the juvenile made to the intake counselor during intake are not admissible during this hearing. The state must prove the allegations using other evidence. If the juvenile is able to understand the significance and ramifications of doing so, he or she may admit committing the offense and focus on the next
stage, the disposition.