Florida Juvenile Procedure Rule 8.665
RULE 8.665. ANSWERS, ARRAIGNMENTS, AND PREHEARING
CONFERENCES
(a) Answers. The child, parent, or custodian of the child may
enter an oral or written answer to the petition or remain silent. If
the child remains silent or pleads evasively, or the parent, guardian,
or legal custodian denies it, the court shall enter a denial of the
petition. The court shall determine that any admission or consent to
the petition is made voluntarily and with a full understanding of the
nature of the allegations and the possible consequences of such
admission or consent and that the parties have been advised of the
right to be represented by counsel. The court shall incorporate
these findings into its order in addition to findings of fact specifying
the act or acts, by whom committed, and facts upon which the
findings are based. If the answer admits the allegations of the
petition it shall constitute consent to a predisposition study.
(b) Arraignment. If a written answer has not been filed by
the child, parent, guardian, or legal custodian before the
adjudicatory hearing, the court shall conduct a hearing to
determine whether an admission, consent, or denial of the petition
shall be entered and whether the parties are represented by counsel
or are entitled to appointed counsel as pro-vided by law. If an
admission or consent is entered, the court shall proceed as set forth
in rule 8.690. If a denial is entered the court shall set an
adjudicatory hearing within the period of time provided by law and
appoint counsel when required.
(c) Withdrawal of Plea. The court may at any time before
the beginning of a disposition hearing permit an admission of the
allegations of the petition to be withdrawn and, if an adjudication
has been entered thereon, set aside such adjudication. In the
subsequent adjudicatory hearing the court shall disregard an
admission that has been withdrawn.
(d) Prehearing Conference. Before the conduct of any
adjudicatory hearing the court may set or the parties may request
that a prehearing conference be held to determine the order in
which each party may present witnesses or evidence and the order
in which cross-examination and argument shall occur. The court
also may enter findings on the record of any stipulations entered
into by the parties and consider any other matters which may aid in
the conduct of the adjudicatory hearing.
CONFERENCES
(a) Answers. The child, parent, or custodian of the child may
enter an oral or written answer to the petition or remain silent. If
the child remains silent or pleads evasively, or the parent, guardian,
or legal custodian denies it, the court shall enter a denial of the
petition. The court shall determine that any admission or consent to
the petition is made voluntarily and with a full understanding of the
nature of the allegations and the possible consequences of such
admission or consent and that the parties have been advised of the
right to be represented by counsel. The court shall incorporate
these findings into its order in addition to findings of fact specifying
the act or acts, by whom committed, and facts upon which the
findings are based. If the answer admits the allegations of the
petition it shall constitute consent to a predisposition study.
(b) Arraignment. If a written answer has not been filed by
the child, parent, guardian, or legal custodian before the
adjudicatory hearing, the court shall conduct a hearing to
determine whether an admission, consent, or denial of the petition
shall be entered and whether the parties are represented by counsel
or are entitled to appointed counsel as pro-vided by law. If an
admission or consent is entered, the court shall proceed as set forth
in rule 8.690. If a denial is entered the court shall set an
adjudicatory hearing within the period of time provided by law and
appoint counsel when required.
(c) Withdrawal of Plea. The court may at any time before
the beginning of a disposition hearing permit an admission of the
allegations of the petition to be withdrawn and, if an adjudication
has been entered thereon, set aside such adjudication. In the
subsequent adjudicatory hearing the court shall disregard an
admission that has been withdrawn.
(d) Prehearing Conference. Before the conduct of any
adjudicatory hearing the court may set or the parties may request
that a prehearing conference be held to determine the order in
which each party may present witnesses or evidence and the order
in which cross-examination and argument shall occur. The court
also may enter findings on the record of any stipulations entered
into by the parties and consider any other matters which may aid in
the conduct of the adjudicatory hearing.