California · Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC

WIC §6512: If, when a boy or girl is brought before a juvenile court under the juvenile court law, it appears to the court, either before or after adjudication, that the person has a developmental disability, or

Civil

What this law says, in plain English

A court may pause criminal or juvenile proceedings if a defendant appears to have a developmental disability, direct guardianship proceedings, and detain or place the person pending evaluation. If no disability is found, normal proceedings resume.

Read the full statutory text

If, when a boy or girl is brought before a juvenile court under the juvenile court law, it appears to the court, either before or after adjudication, that the person has a developmental disability, or if, on the conviction of any person of a crime by any court, it appears to the court that the person has a developmental disability, the court may adjourn the proceedings or suspend the sentence, as the case may be, and direct some suitable person to take proceedings under this article against the person before the court, and the court may order that, pending the preparation, filing, and hearing of the petition, the person before the court be detained in a place of safety, or be placed under the guardianship of some suitable person, on his entering into a recognizance for the appearance of the person upon trial or under conviction when required. If, upon the hearing of the petition, or upon a subsequent hearing, the person upon trial or under conviction is not found to have a developmental disability, the court may proceed with the trial or impose sentence, as the case may be.

Verify at the official source: California legislative text

Facing this? Know exactly what happens next.

MOFRD turns this code section into your situation: the deadlines that apply to you, the forms your county uses, and the resolution paths people in your position actually take. Free for 3 days — no card required.

Start your matter free Ask Law Link about this code

This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.