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Name: In re Vincent G.
Case #: C055068
Court: CA Court of Appeal
District 3 DCA
Opinion Date: 04/23/2008
Summary

In juvenile delinquency cases, relevant evidence, including hearsay, is admissible at a dispositional hearing to assist the court in determining the action to be taken in the minor’s best interests. Minor was found to be within the provisions of Welfare and Institutions Code section 602 in that he possessed marijuana for sale. At the dispositional hearing, the court accepted evidence from the probation officer that another probation officer stationed at minor’s school told him that he had observed minor wearing gang colors and gang symbols. Minor objected on hearsay grounds but the court overruled the objection, finding the statements reliable. Under rules of statutory construction, the court interpreted Welfare and Institutions Code section 358 to permit the court to consider any relevant evidence.