Any crime that a person under 18 commits falls under the category of juvenile crimes. Here are some of the things to expect at a trial if your child is accused of a juvenile crime.
Juvenile Court Referral for Juvenile Crimes
Once your child’s case has been referred to juvenile court by a police officer, a juvenile court intake officer or prosecutor takes control of it. The prosecutor or intake officer can either dismiss the case, informally handle it, or file formal charges which means “petition the case.” To determine the best way to proceed, the following variables will be taken into consideration:
- the severity of the crime
- the child’s age
- any previous record the child may have
- the strength of the evidence against the child
- the child’s gender (boys tend to be charged more than girls)
- social history of the child, and
- ability of the parents to control their child’s behavior
If parental neglect or abuse is suspected, the judge of the juvenile court may decide to begin proceedings that will remove the child from the custody of their parent or guardian.
An average of 20% of all cases referred to juvenile court are dismissed by the prosecutor or intake officer, 25% are informally handled, and the remaining 55% are formally charged.
The Process for Informal Proceedings for Juvenile Crimes
In an informal proceeding, the child appears before a judge or probation officer. Although the child receives no formal charges, they will still face certain types of penalties during the informal proceedings, such as:
- receiving a stern lecture
- must attendance counseling
- must attend classes after school
- must repay any damages to their victim
- must pay a fine
- must perform community service, or
- must enter probation
You will want to contact a juvenile crimes defense attorney such as Sevens Legal Criminal Lawyers, immediately if your child is accused of committing a juvenile crime. A juvenile defense attorney will assist in building your child’s case to avoid conviction which can result in serious penalties and create a record your child will have the rest of their life. Contact Sevens Legal Criminal Lawyers, today for a free consultation.
Criminal Defense Attorneys
3555 4th Ave.
San Diego, CA 92103
Phone: (619) 297-2800