8-844

8-844. Dependency adjudication hearing;
settlement conference or mediation

A. Before a contested dependency case proceeds to adjudication, the court shall
hold a settlement conference or pretrial conference or shall order mediation. All of the
parties in the contested action shall participate in the conference or mediation.

B. The court shall take into consideration as a mitigating factor the availability
of reasonable services to the parent or guardian to prevent or eliminate the need for
removal of the child and the effort of the parent or guardian to obtain and participate
in these services.

C. If, at the dependency adjudication hearing, the court:

1. Finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the allegations contained in the
petition are true, the court shall:

(a) Make the following findings as to each parent:

(i) That the court has jurisdiction over the subject matter and the person before
the court.

(ii) The factual basis for the dependency.

(iii) That the child is dependent.

(b) Conduct a disposition hearing.

2. Does not find by a preponderance of the evidence that the allegations contained
in the petition are true, the court shall dismiss the petition.

D. The court may adjudicate a child dependent as to one parent or guardian and
proceed with a disposition, review or permanency hearing or any other hearing as to that
particular parent or guardian notwithstanding another parent's or guardian's request to
contest the allegations in the petition or that another parent or guardian has not been
served.

E. The court may hold the disposition hearing on the same date as the dependency
adjudication hearing or at a later date that is not more than thirty days after the date
of the dependency adjudication hearing.

F. If a parent does not appear at the pretrial conference, settlement conference or
dependency adjudication hearing, the court, after determining that the parent has been
instructed as provided in section 8-826, may find that the parent has waived the parent's
legal rights and is deemed to have admitted the allegations of the petition by the
failure to appear. The court may make a determination of dependency and disposition based
on the record and evidence presented as provided in rules prescribed by the supreme
court.

G. Evidence considered by the court in making a decision pursuant to this section
shall also include any substantiated allegations of abuse or neglect committed in another
jurisdiction.