---
title: O.C.G.A. § 15-11-580. Admission or denial of the allegations of a petition.
collection: code
id: 15-11-580
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 15-11-580 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/15-11-580
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/15-11-580.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/15-11-580/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t15-ch1-11a-(v13)-2020-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=d8a8826c_0#page=1269
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: COURTS / JUVENILE CODE / DELINQUENCY / ADJUDICATION
---

# O.C.G.A. § 15-11-580. Admission or denial of the allegations of a petition.

(a) At the commencement of the adjudication hearing, the court shall address the alleged delinquent child, in language understandable to the child, and determine whether such child is capable of understanding statements about his or her rights under this article.

(b) If a child is capable, the court shall inquire how he or she responds to the allegations of the delinquency petition. The child may:

(1) Deny the allegations of such petition, in which case the court shall proceed to hear evidence on such petition; or

(2) Admit the allegations of such petition, in which case the court shall further inquire to determine whether there is a factual basis for adjudication. If so, the court may then adjudge such child to have committed a delinquent act.

(c) If a child stands mute, refuses to answer, or answers evasively, the court shall enter a denial of the allegations.

## History

Code 1981, § 15-11-580, enacted by Ga. L. 2013, p. 294, § 1-1/HB 242.