South Australian Consolidated Acts South Australian Consolidated Acts17—Proceedings on charge laid before Youth Court
(1) Subject to this
Act, the Court will deal with a charge laid before the Court in the same way
as the Magistrates Court deals with a charge of a summary offence and, in
doing so, has the powers of the Magistrates Court.
(2) The Court may,
even though a charge has been laid, refer the subject matter of the charge
(after the youth's guilt has been established either by admission or by the
Court's findings) to be dealt with by a police officer or by a family
conference.
(3) If—
(a) the
offence with which the youth is charged is a homicide, or an offence
consisting of an attempt to commit, or assault with intent to commit homicide;
or
(b) the
offence with which the youth is charged is an indictable offence and the
youth, after obtaining independent legal advice, asks to be dealt with in the
same way as an adult; or
(c) the
Court or the Supreme Court determines, on the application of the DPP or a
police prosecutor, that the youth should be dealt with in the same way as an
adult because of the gravity of the offence, or because the offence is part of
a pattern of repeated offending,
the Court will conduct a preliminary examination of the charge, and may commit
the youth for trial or sentence (as the case requires) to the Supreme Court or
the District Court.