Delinquency
When a child under the age of 17 allegedly commits an act that would be a crime if committed by an adult, the child may face a Delinquency Petition filed against them. The Delinquency process in the Juvenile Court is a Civil Proceeding, but has many features of a criminal case. If the allegations are proven against the child, either by a negotiated Plea Agreement or after a Trial to the Court, the Juvenile is adjudicated delinquent. The Court may then impose a wide variety of sanctions from monetary penalties to an Order of Supervision (a form of Juvenile Probation) to placement in a secure Juvenile facility, depending upon the specific facts of the case.
If retained to represent a child in a Delinquency Proceeding, we will investigate the matter, advise the child on how to proceed with the case, work to negotiate a settlement, if appropriate and defend the child at Trial. If the allegations are proven or a settlement is reached, we will represent the child in the determination of the Order that the Court may enter.
We can also assist parents through the process. Often times, the child is assigned an attorney by the Court or the State Public Defender's office, but the parents are left unrepresented. The child’s attorney will, properly under the rules of professional responsibility, not communicate with the parents and cannot represent the parents as well. Therefore, in such a case, we may be retained to assist the parents through the process so that they have an understanding of what is happening and have a voice in the process.
(please choose from the menu choices above)
