State v. Childress

¶1 In Washington, a juvenile court may decline jurisdiction, thus transferring the matter for adult criminal prosecution, where the court determines by a preponderance of the evidence that declination would be in the best interest of the juvenile or the public. In making this determination, the court must consider the eight Kent1 factors originally set forth by the United States Supreme Court. The juvenile court’s declination decision is a jurisdictional determination, not a sentencing determination. Indeed, as the juvenile must be found guilty of the alleged offense beyond a reasonable doubt…