Superior Court Statistical Reporting Manual

ct7held

4. PROCEEDINGS HELD

A proceeding is a matter held in open court with at least one of the parties represented in a case which is actually heard (i.e., oral argument or testimony is given), other than an ex parte action. Ex parte hearings held in open court where oral argument or testimony is given should be recorded as proceedings (see Ex Parte Actions).

A proceeding should be recorded with the proceeding-held docket code entry on the day the proceeding commences. For a multi-day proceeding (i.e., a hearing conducted on two or more days), record the proceeding-held docket code only on the first day.

A case reopened is treated like any other case when scheduling a proceeding or docketing a proceeding that has occurred. See Case Filings for the definition and discussion of a reopened case.

Recording Proceeding Time - The use of sub-docket codes to record the length of proceeding times is a local option, and does not affect caseload statistics. For information on recording proceeding time, see the Usage Notes topic under Proceeding Docket Codes in the SCOMIS Code Manual.

Multiple Proceeding Types - For a given case, a single session of the court can result in the occurrence of one or more proceedings. When multiple proceedings are held during a given court appearance, the Case Management Advisory Committee (CMAC) decided that the single proceeding category which best reflects the nature of the appearance should be recorded. The Superior Court Statistics/Codes Committee adopted rules for selecting the most appropriate category to be reported. These rules will be fully implemented when the Courts Automated Proceedings (CAPS) computer application is available. In the meantime, docket in accordance with the following rules.

(1) Docket each type of proceeding held during a single session of the court only once. For example, if multiple motions are made during a proceeding, docket only one motion hearing (MTHRG).

(2) Do not docket a motion hearing (MTHRG) or a dismissal hearing (DSMHRG) through fact finding hearing duration.

Cases Consolidated for a Proceeding - Multiple dependency cases may be consolidated for a single court session. For proceedings involving consolidated cases, record the appropriate proceeding-held docket code(s) for each case in order to maintain the legal docket record.

PROCEEDING CATEGORIES - Definitions for these proceeding categories are given below. For each category all applicable SCOMIS proceeding-held docket codes are given in parentheses. Only docket codes shown here will be included in juvenile dependency proceeding statistical counts on the caseload report.

4.A. DETENTION HEARING (DETHRG)

A hearing before the court to determine whether probable cause exists to detain a juvenile.

4.B. WARRANT IDENTIFICATION HEARING (WID)

A hearing at which a defendant is identified on a bench warrant arrest and at which conditions of release are determined. It should not be confused with the issuing of a warrant. It should also not be confused with the PLMHRG code used for hearings on new arrests or original warrants.

4.C. PRE-RESOLUTION HEARINGS

    Status Conference (STAHRG) - A status conference is a hearing before the court to determine the condition or state of a case, generally occurring at the midpoint in the life of a case.

    Motion Hearing (MTHRG) - A motion hearing is a proceeding before the court for an order to set forth specific relief as requested.

    Pre-Fact Finding Management Hearing (PTMHRG) - A hearing whereby the court considers compliance with discovery and motion deadlines, attempts to frame issues of fact and law for a fact finding hearing, sets a briefing schedule, and makes further rulings as necessary, including the determination of readiness for a fact finding hearing.

    Settlement Conference/Hearing Held (STLCON) - A hearing whereby parties or their attorneys prepare and present their issues in an effort to reach settlement.

4.D. GUARDIANSHIP HEARING HELD (GRDHRG)

A hearing on a petition to establish a guardianship as an appropriate permanent plan for a dependent child who cannot be safely reunified with his or her parent(s). See Ch. 13.36 RCW.

4.E. SHELTER CARE HEARING

    Shelter Care Hearing: Contested (SCCHRG) - A contested hearing to determine whether a child alleged to be dependent is in need of services such as temporary housing or medical care.

    Shelter Care Hearing: Uncontested (SCUHRG) - An uncontested hearing to determine whether a child alleged to be dependent is in need of services such as temporary housing or medical care.

4.F. FACT FINDING HEARING BY AFFIDAVIT (AFTRIAL)

A fact finding hearing in which the issues of fact and law are to be determined by the judicial officer of a court or competent jurisdiction based on the agreed statement of facts contained in one or more affidavits.

4.G. FACT FINDING ONLY HEARING (FFHRG)

A hearing to determine issues pertaining to families in conflict, the dependency of a juvenile, and the appointment of a guardian when a disposition hearing does not immediately follow. This includes child in need of services, dependency of a juvenile, termination of parental rights, youth at-risk, and truancy causes of action. In addition, use this code to record a hearing held to appoint a guardian in a dependency case (where the child has met all criteria established in RCW 13.34.23) as an alternative to the termination of parental rights.

To document the number of days and length of time per day in a multi-day proceeding, see Recording Proceeding Time.

4.H. FACT FINDING AND DISPOSITION HEARING (FFDHRG)

A hearing to determine issues pertaining to families in conflict, the dependency of a juvenile, and the appointment of a guardian, where a disposition hearing immediately follows. These include child in need of services, dependency of a juvenile, termination of parental rights, youth at-risk, and truancy causes of action. In addition, use this code to record a hearing held to appoint a guardian in a dependency case (where the child has met all criteria established in RCW 13.34.23) as an alternative to the termination of parental rights if followed immediately by a disposition hearing.

To document the number of days and length of time per day in a multi-day proceeding, see Recording Proceeding Time.

The FFDHRG code may be used more than one time when separate disposition hearings are held to resolve separate issues in a case. Example: a fact finding and disposition hearing is recorded for a guardianship petition filed pursuant to finding of dependency.

4.I. SEPARATE DISPOSITION HEARING

    Disposition Hearing (DSPHRG) - A hearing to determine the disposition of a case pertaining to a child in need of service, dependency, termination, at-risk youth, or appointment of guardian where fact finding has previously occurred.

    The DSPHRG code may be used more than one time when separate disposition hearings are held to resolve separate issues in a case. Example: a fact finding and disposition hearing is recorded for a guardianship petition filed pursuant to finding of dependency.

    Dismissal Hearing (DSMHRG) - A hearing before the court in which the case is dismissed before, during, or after a fact finding has occurred.

4.J. REVIEW HEARING (RVWHRG)

A hearing to review or modify an alternative residential placement, child in need of services, dependency, or at-risk youth disposition plan, which is held within the prescribed time limits set by statute. In addition, use this code to record a hearing held to establish permanent placement of a dependent child who has been in substitute care for at least fifteen and no longer than eighteen months.

4.K. CONTEMPT HEARING (CTPHRG)

A hearing to determine whether an existing order has been violated.

4.L. DEPENDENCY REVIEW HEARING (DPRHRG)

A hearing to review the status of all dependent children found to be at least every six months from the beginning date of the placement episode or the date dependency is established, whichever is first. The purpose of the hearing shall be to review the progress of the parties and determine whether court supervision should continue. (RCW 13.34.138)

4.M. FIRST DEPENDENCY REVIEW HEARING (FDRHRG)

The initial review hearing in a dependency case which shall be an in-court review and shall be set six months from the beginning date of the placement episode or no more than ninety days from the entry of the disposition order, whichever comes first. (RCW 13.34.138)

4.N. PERMANENCY PLANNING HEARING (PPHRG)

At the permanency planning hearing the court reviews the permanency plan for the child, inquires into the welfare of the child and progress of the case, and reaches decisions regarding the permanent placement of the child. A permanency planning hearing shall be held in all cases where the child has remained in out-of-home care for at least nine months and an adoption decree, guardianship order, or permanent custody order has not previously been entered. The hearing shall take place no later than twelve months following commencement of the current placement episode. (RCW 13.34.145)

Note: FDRHRG, PPHRG, and DPRHRG are counted in the existing SCOMIS Dependency (Case Type 7) caseload-reporting category, “Other Post-Resolution Hearings.”


 

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