Legal Definitions - waiver hearing

A waiver hearing is a legal proceeding where a judge decides whether a juvenile should be tried as an adult. It is also known as a transfer hearing. During the hearing, the judge considers factors such as the seriousness of the crime, the juvenile's age, and their criminal history. If the judge decides to transfer the case to adult court, the juvenile will be subject to the same penalties as an adult.

For example, if a 16-year-old is accused of a serious crime like murder, they may have a waiver hearing to determine if they should be tried as an adult. The judge will consider the evidence and decide if the case should be transferred to adult court.