(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the following shall apply to a person sentenced pursuant to Section 1170.17.

(1) The person may be committed to the Youth Authority only to the extent the person meets the eligibility criteria set forth in Section 1732.6 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(2) The person shall not be housed in any facility under the jurisdiction of the Department of Corrections, if the person is under the age of 16 years.

(3) The person shall have his or her criminal court records accorded the same degree of public access as the records pertaining to the conviction of an adult for the identical offense.

(4) Subject to the knowing and intelligent consent of both the prosecution and the person being sentenced pursuant to this section, the court may order a juvenile disposition under the juvenile court law, in lieu of a sentence under this code, upon a finding that such an order would serve the best interests of justice, protection of the community, and the person being sentenced. Prior to ordering a juvenile disposition, the court shall cause to be received into evidence a social study by the probation officer, prepared pursuant to Section 706 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, and shall state that the social study made by the probation officer has been read and considered by the court.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the following shall apply to a person who is eligible to receive a juvenile disposition pursuant to Section 1170.17.

(1) The person shall be entitled a hearing on the proper disposition of the case, conducted in accordance with the provisions of Section 706 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. The court in which the conviction occurred shall order the probation department to prepare a written social study and recommendation concerning the proper disposition of the case, prior to conducting the hearing or remand the matter to the juvenile court for purposes of preparing the social study, conducting the disposition hearing pursuant to Section 706 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, and making a disposition order under the juvenile court law.

(2) The person shall have his or her conviction deemed to be a finding of delinquency wardship under Section 602 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(3) The person shall have his or her criminal court records accorded the same degree of confidentiality as if the matter had been initially prosecuted as a delinquency petition in the juvenile court.

(4) Subject to the knowing and intelligent consent of both the prosecution and the person being sentenced pursuant to this section, the court may impose an adult sentence under this code, in lieu of ordering a juvenile disposition under the juvenile court law, upon a finding that such an order would serve the best interests of justice, protection of the community, and the person being sentenced. Prior to ordering an adult sentence, the court shall cause to be received into evidence a social study by the probation officer, prepared pursuant to Section 706 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, and shall state that the social study prepared by the probation officer has been read and considered by the court.

(Added by Stats. 1999, Ch. 996, Sec. 12.1. Effective January 1, 2000.)