Juvenile crime: deferred entry of judgment.

Existing law, enacted by initiative statute, provides that if a minor consents and waives his or her right to a speedy jurisdictional hearing, the court may refer the case to the probation department or summarily grant deferred entry of judgment if the minor admits the charges in the petition and waives time for the pronouncement of the judgment. These provisions apply whenever a case is before the juvenile court for a determination of whether the minor is within the jurisdiction of the juvenile court because of the commission of a felony offense, and the minor meets other eligibility criteria, including that the offense charged is not one of an enumerated list of offenses for which a minor 14 years of age or older may be found unfit for treatment in juvenile court and prosecuted under the general law in a court of criminal jurisdiction. The initiative statute provides that any amendment of its provisions requires a 23 vote of the membership of each house of the Legislature. This bill would list additional sexual offenses for which a minor charged with the commission thereof would become ineligible for a deferred entry of judgment pursuant to these provisions. By changing the punishment for a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Because the bill would amend an initiative statute, it would require a 23 vote. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.