Juveniles: dismissals.

Existing law authorizes a judge of the juvenile court in which a petition was filed to dismiss the petition, or set aside the findings and dismiss the petition, if the court finds that the interests of justice and the welfare of the minor require that dismissal, or if the court finds that the minor is not in need of treatment or rehabilitation, regardless of whether the minor is, at the time of the order, a ward or dependent child of the court. This bill would additionally allow a petition to be dismissed by a court that takes jurisdiction of the case, as specified. This bill would also authorize a judge of a juvenile court to dismiss a petition pursuant to these provisions at any time after the filing of a petition, and regardless of whether the petition was sustained at trial, by admission or plea agreement. The bill would require a court, at the time the court terminates jurisdiction or any time thereafter, to consider and afford great weight to evidence offered by the person to prove that specified mitigating circumstances are present unless the person seeking relief under these provisions has been convicted of a serious or violent felony, as defined. The bill would provide that proof of the presence of one or more specified mitigating circumstances weighs greatly in favor of dismissing a petition pursuant to these provisions. The bill would specify that dismissal of a petition pursuant to these provisions would not prohibit a court from enforcing a civil judgment for an unfulfilled order of restitution.