Which hearing occurs before a court to decide the next steps after a juvenile's charge?

The arraignment hearing is the correct choice because it serves as the initial court appearance for a juvenile after they have been charged with a crime. During this hearing, the judge informs the juvenile of the charges against them and discusses the rights that the juvenile has within the proceedings. Importantly, the juvenile is often asked to enter a plea at this stage. The arraignment sets the stage for the judicial process and determines the next steps, which may include setting a date for further hearings or determining if the juvenile will remain in detention or be released.

In contrast, the adjudicatory hearing is specifically focused on determining the facts of the case and whether the juvenile committed the alleged offense. The detention hearing addresses whether the juvenile should remain in custody during the proceedings, while the disposition hearing occurs after a finding of guilt, where the court decides on the appropriate consequences or interventions for the juvenile. Each of these hearings has a distinct purpose in the juvenile justice process, but the arraignment hearing is first in the sequence following the charges.