Nebraska Revised Statutes

Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-274 (2026)

County attorney; city attorney; preadjudication powers and duties; petition, pretrial diversion, or restorative justice practice or service; transfer; procedures; appeal; admission, confession, or statement made by juvenile; inadmissible; when

✓ current as of July 2026

Find cases: SyfertCases citing this section NE-LEGnebraskalegislature.gov JustiaChapter on Justia CornellLII Search CasesGoogle Scholar

(1) The county attorney or city attorney, having knowledge of a juvenile within his or her jurisdiction who appears to be a juvenile described in subdivision (1), (2), (3)(b), or (4) of section 43-247 and taking into consideration the criteria in section 43-276, may proceed as provided in this section.

(2) The county attorney or city attorney may offer pretrial diversion to the juvenile in accordance with a juvenile pretrial diversion program established pursuant to sections 43-260.02 to 43-260.07.

(3)(a) If a juvenile appears to be a juvenile described in subdivision (1), (2), (3)(b), or (4) of section 43-247, the county attorney or city attorney may utilize restorative justice practices or services as a form of, or condition of, diversion or plea bargaining or as a recommendation as a condition of disposition, through a referral to a restorative justice facilitator.

(b) For victim-involved offenses, a restorative justice facilitator shall conduct a separate individual intake and assessment session with each juvenile and victim to determine which, if any, restorative justice practice is appropriate. All participation by the victim shall be voluntary. If the victim declines to participate in any or all parts of the restorative justice practice, a victim surrogate may be invited to participate with the juvenile. If, after assessment, participation by the juvenile is deemed inappropriate, the restorative justice facilitator shall return the referral to the referring county attorney or city attorney.

(c) A victim or his or her parent or guardian shall not be charged a fee. A juvenile or his or her parent or guardian may be charged a fee according to the policies and procedures of the restorative justice facilitator and the referring county attorney or city attorney. Restorative justice facilitators shall use a sliding fee scale based on income and shall not deny services based upon the inability of a juvenile or his or her parent or guardian to pay, if funding is otherwise available.

(d) Prior to participating in any restorative justice practice or service under this section, the juvenile, the juvenile's parent or guardian, and the victim, if he or she is participating, shall sign a consent to participate form.

(e) If a reparation plan agreement is reached, the restorative justice facilitator shall forward a copy of the agreement to the referring county attorney or city attorney. The terms of the reparation plan agreement shall specify provisions for reparation, monitoring, completion, and reporting. An agreement may include, but is not limited to, one or more of the following:

(i) Participation by the juvenile in certain community service programs;

(ii) Payment of restitution by the juvenile to the victim;

(iii) Reconciliation between the juvenile and the victim;

(iv) Apology, when appropriate, between the juvenile and the victim; and

(v) Any other areas of agreement.

(f) The restorative justice facilitator shall give notice to the county attorney or city attorney regarding the juvenile's compliance with the terms of the reparation plan agreement. If the juvenile does not satisfactorily complete the terms of the agreement, the county attorney or city attorney may:

(i) Refer the matter back to the restorative justice facilitator for further restorative justice practices or services; or

(ii) Proceed with filing a juvenile court petition or criminal charge.

(g) If a juvenile meets the terms of the reparation plan agreement, the county attorney or city attorney shall either:

(i) Not file a juvenile court petition or criminal charge against the juvenile for the acts for which the juvenile was referred for restorative justice practice or services when referred as a diversion or an alternative to diversion; or

(ii) File a reduced charge as previously agreed when referred as a part of a plea negotiation.

(4) The county attorney or city attorney shall file the petition in the court with jurisdiction as outlined in section 43-246.01.

(5)(a) When a transfer from juvenile court to county court or district court is authorized because there is concurrent jurisdiction, the county attorney or city attorney may move to transfer the proceedings. Such motion shall be filed with the juvenile court petition unless otherwise permitted for good cause shown. The juvenile court shall schedule a hearing on such motion within fifteen days after the motion is filed. The county attorney or city attorney has the burden by a preponderance of the evidence to show why such proceeding should be transferred. The juvenile shall be represented by counsel at the hearing and may present the evidence as to why the proceeding should be retained. After considering all the evidence and reasons presented by both parties, the juvenile court shall retain the proceeding unless the court determines that a preponderance of the evidence shows that the proceeding should be transferred to the county court or district court. The court shall make a decision on the motion within thirty days after the hearing. The juvenile court shall set forth findings for the reason for its decision.

(b) An order granting or denying transfer of the case from juvenile court to county or district court shall be considered a final order for the purposes of appeal. Upon the entry of an order, any party may appeal to the Court of Appeals within ten days. Such review shall be advanced on the court docket without an extension of time granted to any party except upon a showing of exceptional cause. Appeals shall be submitted, assigned, and scheduled for oral argument as soon as the appellee's brief is due to be filed. The Court of Appeals shall conduct its review in an expedited manner and shall render the judgment and opinion, if any, as speedily as possible. During the pendency of any such appeal, the juvenile court may continue to enter temporary orders in the best interests of the juvenile pursuant to section 43-295.

(c) If the proceeding is transferred from juvenile court to the county court or district court, the county attorney or city attorney shall file a criminal information in the county court or district court, as appropriate, and the accused shall be arraigned as provided for a person eighteen years of age or older in subdivision (1)(b) of section 29-1816.

(d)(i) Except as provided in subdivision (5)(d)(ii) of this section, any admission, confession, or statement made by the juvenile to a psychiatrist, psychologist, therapist, or licensed mental health practitioner for purposes of a motion to transfer a case from juvenile court to county court or district court shall be inadmissible in any criminal or civil proceeding.

(ii) Subdivision (5)(d)(i) of this section does not prevent any such admission, confession, or statement from being:

(A) Admissible in proceedings relating to such motion to transfer;

(B) Admissible in disposition proceedings for such juvenile under the Nebraska Juvenile Code if the case is not transferred to county court or district court;

(C) Included in any presentence investigation report for such juvenile if the case is transferred to county court or district court; and

(D) Admissible in such case to impeach such juvenile during cross-examination if the juvenile testifies at trial or during juvenile court proceedings and such testimony is materially inconsistent with a prior statement made by the juvenile to a psychiatrist, psychologist, therapist, or licensed mental health practitioner for purposes of the motion to transfer such case.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 35 cases (8 in the last 5 years), 1986–2026 · leading case: In re Interest of Tyrone K., 887 N.W.2d 489 (Neb. 2016).

Sort: Relevance Newest Treatment

In re Interest of Tyrone K., 887 N.W.2d 489 (Neb. 2016). · cites it 19× “2 See Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-274 (5) (Reissue 2016).”

In re Interest of Sandrino T., 888 N.W.2d 371 (Neb. 2016). · cites it 8× “See Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-274 (5) (Reissue 2016).”

State v. Steven S. (In Re Steven S.), 299 Neb. 447 (Neb. 2018). · cites it 5× “See Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-274 (5) (Supp. 2017).”

In re Interest of Luis D., 29 Neb. Ct. App. 495 (Neb. Ct. App. 2021). · cites it 45× “01 (3) (Reissue 2016) may be initiated either in the juvenile court or in the county or district court and may be transferred as provided in Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-274 (Supp. 2019). 5.”

In re Interest of Nizigiyimana R., 889 N.W.2d 362 (Neb. 2016). · cites it 2× “Facts Preceding Intervention Hearing On October 1, 2013, the State sought Ziggy’s adjudication under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-274 (3)(a) (Reissue 2008), when he was about 6 months old.”

In Re Interest of Rondell B., 546 N.W.2d 801 (Neb. 1996). · cites it 4× “SERVICE OF PROCESS AND NOTICE Neb.Rev.Stat. § 43-274 (Reissue 1993) empowers a county attorney having knowledge of a juvenile falling within the purview of § 43-247(3)(a) to institute proceedings to determine *805 whether support is to be ordered pursuant to Neb.”

Lisa v. v. Steven S., 529 N.W.2d 805 (Neb. Ct. App. 1995). · cites it 4× “Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-274 et seq. (Reissue 1993).”

In re Interest of Jorge A., 990 N.W.2d 560 (Neb. Ct. App. 2023). · cites it 5× “However, when a juvenile seeks to transfer a case from crimi- nal court to the juvenile court, a court shall transfer “unless a sound basis exists for retaining the case.” Neb. Rev. Stat.”

In Re Interest of Jamie P., 670 N.W.2d 814 (Neb. Ct. App. 2003). · cites it 6× “Rhonda indicated within the petition that it had been filed with the consent of the county attorney pursuant to Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-274 (Reissue 1998). Rhonda further alleged therein that Alan had placed Jamie at risk for harm by subjecting her to inappropriate sexual contact,…”

In re Interest of Steven S., 299 Neb. 447 (Neb. 2018). · cites it 5× “First, transfers from juvenile to “adult” court are a recent development.”

J.M.N. v. Nebraska Dep't of Soc. Servs., 464 N.W.2d 811 (Neb. 1991). · cites it 2× “in accordance with section 43-274, whenever the care or custody of a juvenile is given by the court to someone other than his or her parent, which shall include placement with a state agency, or when a juvenile is given medical, psychological, or psychiatric study or treatment…”

In Re Interest of Juan L., 577 N.W.2d 319 (Neb. Ct. App. 1998). · cites it 2× “See Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-274 (Reissue 1993). The adjudication would obviously be void unless the praecipe for transcript was not followed and the petition was not included in the transcript by mistake.”

Show all 35 citing cases →

— Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-274(1) — 4 cases

In Re Interest of Jamie P., 670 N.W.2d 814 (Neb. Ct. App. 2003). “Rhonda indicated within the petition that it had been filed with the consent of the county attorney pursuant to Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-274 (Reissue 1998). Rhonda further alleged therein that Alan had placed Jamie at risk for harm by subjecting her to inappropriate sexual contact,…”

Matney ex rel. Valentin V. v. State, Dep't of Health & Human Servs., 674 N.W.2d 793 (Neb. Ct. App. 2004).

In Re Valentin, 674 N.W.2d 793 (Neb. Ct. App. 2004).

In re Interest of Tyerca R. (Neb. Ct. App. 2013).

— Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-274(4) — 1 case

In re Interest of Tyrone K., 887 N.W.2d 489 (Neb. 2016). “2 See Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-274 (5) (Reissue 2016).”

— Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-274(5) — 7 cases

In re Interest of Tyrone K., 887 N.W.2d 489 (Neb. 2016). “2 See Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-274 (5) (Reissue 2016).”

In re Interest of Sandrino T., 888 N.W.2d 371 (Neb. 2016). “See Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-274 (5) (Reissue 2016).”

State v. Steven S. (In Re Steven S.), 299 Neb. 447 (Neb. 2018). “See Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-274 (5) (Supp. 2017).”

In re Interest of Luis D., 29 Neb. Ct. App. 495 (Neb. Ct. App. 2021). “01 (3) (Reissue 2016) may be initiated either in the juvenile court or in the county or district court and may be transferred as provided in Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-274 (Supp. 2019). 5.”

In re Interest of Jorge A., 990 N.W.2d 560 (Neb. Ct. App. 2023). “However, when a juvenile seeks to transfer a case from crimi- nal court to the juvenile court, a court shall transfer “unless a sound basis exists for retaining the case.” Neb. Rev. Stat.”

— Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-274(5)(a) — 3 cases

In re Interest of Aaden S., 329 Neb. 785 (Neb. 2026).

In re Interest of Aaden S., 33 Neb. Ct. App. 777 (Neb. Ct. App. 2025).

In re Interest of Jovani L. (Neb. Ct. App. 2025).

— Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-274(5)(b) — 2 cases

In re Interest of Zachary H. (Neb. Ct. App. 2025).

In re Interest of Aaden S., 329 Neb. 785 (Neb. 2026).

— Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-274(5)(c) — 1 case

In re Interest of Aaden S., 329 Neb. 785 (Neb. 2026).

Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.