Juvenile Offenses & what you need to know
A juvenile crime is any criminal act that is committed by a minor (a person below the legal age of 18). When a minor is accused of a crime or is being investigated, it is a painful and stressful time for everyone in the family. There is always the fear that the police, prosecutors and judges won’t treat the young person as the child that he or she is – a child that in most instances has used youthful poor judgment and has made a mistake.
Although the juvenile court system was originally created to rehabilitate and not to punish, the harsh laws that have recently been enacted have diminished that mission statement. All too often parents assume that because a minor committed the crime, he or she will not be subject to harsh legal penalties if convicted. This belief is far from the truth. In California, all juvenile crimes are taken very seriously by law enforcement and are prosecuted vigorously. Some juvenile crimes are even treated more harshly than if the crime had been committed by an adult.
JUVENILE CRIMES AND PENALTIES
Some of the juvenile crimes we handle include the following:
- Assault and Battery
- Violent Crimes
- Theft and Shoplifting
- Sexual Misconduct
- Vandalism
- DUI and Traffic Violations
- Sealing of Juvenile Records
Once a minor is convicted of a crime, penalties can include jail time, placement in a juvenile detention center, large monetary fines, community service, probation, parole, mandatory drug and alcohol counseling and court-ordered therapy. In fact, the final outcome of a juvenile criminal case can follow your youngster into adulthood and can severely hinder his or her future education and employment. You need the help of a caring criminal defense attorney to ingeniously and aggressively protect your child’s future.
How We Can Help Your Minor
Criminal Defense Attorney Leah Naparstek understands how important it is to effectively communicate with a child that is in trouble. First and foremost, a child must feel that he or she is being heard. At LeahLegal we listen to our client – your child, and we bring in counselors for additional help and assessment, if necessary.
In representing your minor child, we assess the particular facts of his/her case and define the best strategic defense in order to minimize a juvenile criminal record. We fight tooth and nail to protect the minor’s rights and freedom and we negotiate with the appropriate authorities to try to prevent the child from being treated as an adult. If necessary, we represent the child in juvenile court, where a juvenile can still be held in custody until adulthood. At every stage of a juvenile case, we try to find creative ways to solve problems for our young client.
To schedule a free initial consultation for a juvenile offense, call (818) 484-1100 NOW today or fill out the form provided here.
