2680

LAWS OF MARYLAND

[Ch. 554

CONFERENCES INCIDENT TO AN INFORMAL ADJUSTMENT MAY NOT
BE ADMITTED IN EVIDENCE IN ANY ADJUDICATORY HEARING OR IN
A CRIMINAL PROCEEDING AGAINST HIM PRIOR TO CONVICTION.

(B)    ANY INFORMATION SECURED OR STATEMENT MADE BY A
PARTICIPANT DURING A PRELIMINARY INQUIRY PURSUANT TO
§3-810 OR A STUDY PURSUANT TO §3-818 MAY NOT BE ADMITTED
IN EVIDENCE IN ANY HEARING PRIOR TO THE ADJUDICATION OR
IN A CRIMINAL PROCEEDING AGAINST HIM PRIOR TO CONVICTION.

(C)    A STATEMENT MADE BY A CHILD, HIS PARENTS,
GUARDIAN OR CUSTODIAN AT A WAIVER HEARING IS NOT
ADMISSIBLE AGAINST HIM OR THEM IN CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS
PRIOR TO CONVICTION EXCEPT WHEN THE PERSON IS CHARGED
WITH PERJURY, AND THE STATEMENT IS RELEVANT TO THAT
CHARGE AND IS OTHERWISE ADMISSIBLE.

3-812. PETITION; GENERAL PROCEDURES.

(A)    A PETITION SHALL ALLEGE THAT A CHILD IS EITHER
DELINQUENT, OR IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE, OR IN NEED OF
SUPERVISION. IF IT ALLEGES DELINQUENCY, IT SHALL SET
FORTH IN CLEAR AND SIMPLE LANGUAGE THE ALLEGED FACTS
WHICH CONSTITUTE THE DELINQUENCY, AND SHALL ALSO SPECIFY
THE LAWS ALLEGEDLY VIOLATED BY THE CHILD. IF IT ALLEGES
THAT THE CHILD IS IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE OR IN NEED OF
SUPERVISION, THE PETITION SHALL SET FORTH IN CLEAR AND
SIMPLE LANGUAGE THE ALLEGED FACTS SUPPORTING THAT
ALLEGATION.

(B)    PETITIONS ALLEGING DELINQUENCY SHALL BE
PREPARED AND FILED BY THE STATE'S ATTORNEY. ALL OTHER
PETITIONS SHALL BE PREPARED AND FILED BY THE INTAKE
OFFICER.

(C)    THE FORM OF PETITIONS AND ALL OTHER
PLEADINGS, AND EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN THIS
SUBTITLE, THE PROCEDURES TO BE FOLLOWED BY THE COURT,
SHALL BE AS SPECIFIED IN THE MARYLAND RULES.

(D)    THE STATE'S ATTORNEY, UPON ASSIGNING HIS
REASONS, MAY DISMISS A PETITION ALLEGING DELINQUENCY IN
OPEN COURT.

(E)    THE COURT SHALL CONDUCT ALL HEARINGS IN AN
INFORMAL MANNER. IT MAY EXCLUDE THE GENERAL PUBLIC FROM A
HEARING, AND ADMIT ONLY THOSE PERSONS HAVING A DIRECT
INTEREST IN THE PROCEEDING AND THEIR REPRESENTATIVES.

(F)    THE COURT SHALL TRY CASES WITHOUT A JURY.
3-813. MASTERS.

(A) THE JUDGES OF A CIRCUIT COURT, AND THE SUPREME