Tribe: Ponca Tribe of Nebraska
Section 3-7-15. Informal Conference.
1. The Tribal Attorney and/or the Department may, at any
time before or after a petition is filed and prior to disposition,
hold an informal conference with the child and the child’s parents,
guardian or custodian to discuss alternative courses of action in
the particular case, or otherwise propose alternative courses of
action to the child and the child’s parents, guardian or custodian
which may be accepted or rejected by the child and the child’s
parents.
2. Statements made by the child at an informal conference
may or may not be used against the child in determining the truth
of the allegations in the petition. The Court shall make the
determination whether or not a statement is admissible.
3. At the informal conference or as a result of a proposal,
the Tribe may enter into a written agreement with the child and
the child’s parents, guardian or custodian specifying particular
conditions to be observed and/or programs to be completed. The
agreement may also include a stipulated adjudication of the child
as a child offender. The Court shall accept the agreement as a
consent decree under this Chapter in lieu of a disposition of the
child, subject to compliance with the agreement. The child and
the child’s parents, guardian or custodian shall enter into the
agreement with the knowledge that consent is voluntary and that
they may refuse to enter into the agreement and proceed through
hearings in the proceeding before the Court.
4. The child may be represented by legal counsel at his or
her own expense at any informal conference.
5. Upon the successful completion of the terms of a written
agreement entered into under this Section, the case shall be
dismissed and no further action taken in the case.
6. If the child fails to successfully complete the terms of
the agreement, it shall be treated as a failure to fulfill the
terms of a consent decree.