At the end of the dispositional hearing the court may enter an order suspending judgment for a period not exceeding

• A. not exceeding 1 month
• B. not exceeding 3 months
• C. not exceeding 12 months
• D. not exceeding 6 months

Answer: (D)

Suspending judgment is a way for the court to delay entering a final judgment after a dispositional hearing while the respondent completes court-ordered conditions (like probation, counseling, restitution). The law sets a definite ceiling on how long that deferral can last, and that ceiling is six months. This six-month limit keeps the process timely and gives both sides a clear timeframe to gauge progress. If the conditions are met within that period and the court is satisfied, it can finalize the disposition; if not, the court typically proceeds with entering judgment or adjusting the disposition after the period ends.