In re Whitney Z.
Respondent, a juvenile delinquent, was placed on probation but later admitted to violating its terms, leading to her placement in the custody of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe. She appealed the order, and the appellate court first rejected the petitioner's claim of abandonment. On the merits, the court agreed with the respondent that the probation violation petition was jurisdictionally defective. The petition, filed by a probation officer based on hearsay, lacked nonhearsay allegations and supporting affidavits. The court ruled that the absence of nonhearsay affidavits constitutes a nonwaivable jurisdictional defect, even if the respondent admitted to the violation, and therefore reversed the lower court's order and dismissed the petition.