Legal Definitions - fitness hearing

A fitness hearing is a type of hearing that is held to determine whether a juvenile offender should be tried as an adult. It is a judicial session that is usually open to the public and involves deciding issues of fact or law, sometimes with witnesses testifying.

For example, if a 16-year-old is accused of a serious crime, such as murder, the prosecutor may request a fitness hearing to determine whether the case should be heard in juvenile court or adult court. The hearing will consider factors such as the offender's age, criminal history, and the severity of the crime.

Another example is if a 17-year-old is accused of a non-violent crime, such as theft, and the prosecutor wants to try them as an adult. The fitness hearing will determine whether the case should be heard in juvenile court or adult court based on the offender's maturity level and other factors.