Under Rule 609(c), juvenile adjudications are admissible only if which conditions are met?

• A. In civil cases
• B. In all cases
• C. Never admissible
• D. In criminal case; adjudication of a witness other than the defendant; an adult's conviction for that offense would be admissible to attack credibility, and admitting is necessary to fairly determine guilt

Answer: (D)

Rule 609(c) creates a narrow exception to the general rule about using juvenile adjudications to impeach a witness. It allows such evidence only in a criminal case and only under specific conditions: the adjudication must concern a witness other than the defendant, the offense would be admissible to attack credibility if it had been committed by an adult, and the court must find that admitting the adjudication is necessary to fairly determine guilt. This is why the correct answer describes a criminal case, a non-defendant as the adjudicated individual, and the adult-admissibility and fairness requirements. The other options miss the crucial limitations: juvenile adjudications aren’t admitted in civil cases, aren’t admitted in all cases, and aren’t categorically admissible in every situation.