When can a juvenile case be dismissed?

A juvenile case can be dismissed upon a finding of lack of probable cause because this indicates that there isn't sufficient evidence to support the charges against the juvenile. In the legal system, probable cause is the threshold that must be met to proceed with a case; without it, there is no justification to continue the prosecution. Dismissing a case at this stage protects the juvenile from being wrongfully prosecuted when evidence does not warrant such actions.

In contrast, a guilty plea typically leads to a conviction rather than a dismissal. Similarly, the withdrawal of a victim's statement doesn't automatically result in dismissal; the case may still proceed based on other evidence. Lastly, a consent decree is a legal agreement that can resolve a case without admission of guilt but does not equate to the case being dismissed; rather, it may impose certain conditions or requirements for the juvenile to comply with.