Rule 7. The Petition

(a) [Vacant].

(b) [Vacant].

(c) Nature and contents. The petition shall be a plain, concise and definite written

statement of the essential facts constituting the offense charged. It shall be signed by any

person specified in D.C. Code § 16-2305(b), and shall be verified upon information and

belief. It shall contain a statement that the respondent appears to be in need of care and

rehabilitation. The petition need not contain a formal commencement, a formal conclusion

or any other matter not necessary to such statement. Allegations made in one count may

be incorporated by reference in another count. It may be alleged in a single count that the

means by which the respondent committed the offense are unknown or that the

respondent committed it by one or more specified means. The petition in a delinquency

case shall state for each count the official or customary citation of the statute, rule,

regulation or other provision of law which the respondent is alleged therein to have

violated. Error in the citation or its omission shall not be ground for dismissal of the petition

or for reversal of a judgment if the error or omission did not mislead the respondent to the

respondent's prejudice. The petition in a need for supervision case shall state (1) the dates

and number of times a respondent is alleged to have been truant from school, in the case

of a child charged with habitual truancy; (2) the statute, rule, regulation or other provision

of law alleged to have been violated, in the case of an offense committable only by

children; and (3) the specific acts and dates thereof giving rise to a charge of

ungovernability, in the case of a respondent charged with habitual disobedience of the

reasonable and lawful commands of the respondent's parents

d charged with habitual truancy; (2) the statute, rule, regulation or other provision

of law alleged to have been violated, in the case of an offense committable only by

children; and (3) the specific acts and dates thereof giving rise to a charge of

ungovernability, in the case of a respondent charged with habitual disobedience of the

reasonable and lawful commands of the respondent's parents. Petitions in both

delinquency and need for supervision cases shall state (1) the name, birth date and

residence address of the respondent, (2) the names and residence addresses of the

respondent's parents, or legal guardian, if there be one, or the person or persons having

custody and control of the respondent, or the nearest known relative, if no parent or

guardian can be found.

(d) Surplusage. The Family Court on motion of the respondent may strike surplusage

from the petition.

(e) Amendment of the petition. The Family Court may permit a petition to be amended at

any time prior to the conclusion of a fact-finding hearing if no additional or different offense

is charged and if substantial rights of the respondent are not prejudiced. The Family Court

shall grant the Office of the Attorney General, the respondent, and the respondent's

parent, guardian or custodian notice of the amendment and, upon request of any party for

good cause shown, a reasonable time to prepare.

(f) Bill of particulars. The Family Court may direct the filing of a bill of particulars. A

motion for a bill of particulars may be made before the initial hearing or within 10 days after

the initial hearing or at such later time as the Family Court may permit. A bill of particulars

may be amended at any time subject to such conditions as justice requires.