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Juvenile Crimes in California

Being charged with a crime as a youth offender is terrifying for both the alleged offender and the child’s family. The child is scared of the repercussions his or her actions will have on family, school, personal life, and future, and the parents want nothing more than to protect their child and ensure that his or her legal rights are being protected.

While the juvenile justice system has procedures in place to ensure that children can be released to their parent’s care whenever possible, youth sentences may include mandatory detention sentences, rehabilitation treatment, special educational services, or mandatory counseling and should be taken extremely seriously.

As a parent of a child that has been accused of a crime, you and your child have legal rights. If your child has been charged with a crime, call The Rodriguez Law Group today to discuss your case.

Juvenile Crimes

The only thing that makes a crime uniquely “juvenile” is the age at which the crime was committed. California does allow for qualified youths over the age of 14 years old to be tried in the adult justice system for serious crimes (those that are considered particularly violent in nature such as murder, domestic violence, rape, or serious weapons charges). Juvenile courts are technically separate from the criminal justice system and do not involve an adjudication of guilt or innocence generally. Despite these differences, adult actions, even when committed by youths, come with adult consequences.

There are unique circumstances that make juvenile crimes more serious, such as when the child has been skipping school and has been refusing to obey his or her parents (W & I Code 601). These children may need to be part of special programs as part of their sentence, if convicted, to ensure they can be rehabilitated and become part of the community again. Despite the good intentions of many of these court-related programs, there is significant room for improvement. Teenage children, specifically, are at an age where they should be with their families and socializing in certain environments that they cannot get in in a detention or rehabilitation facility.

Often, juveniles will be released to the care of their parents with specific probationary terms (such as attending school, completing community services, staying away from drugs and alcohol entirely), but success at these programs often requires parental interest and intervention, which far too many families lack. Some parents may be gone too often or cannot control their child– if this is the case, the child may have to return to a more controlled environment until the end of his or her sentence.

Adults With Juvenile Records

Having a juvenile crime on your criminal record may be inhibiting your personal and professional growth. Luckily, many juvenile offenses are eligible for expungement or sealing. These procedures allow your criminal records to be removed from databases that may otherwise compromise your ability to pass background checks for jobs, housing, or educational opportunities.

If you are an adult or have reached the end of your probationary period as a juvenile offender, you may be eligible to have the vestiges of your crimes erased from your records. This can help turn your life around for the better and give you a clean slate going forward.

Juvenile Crimes Defense Attorney

Regardless of whether you are a youth being charged as an adult, a youth being tried as a youth, or a parent of a concerned child, you have an abundance of legal rights as a criminal defendant. There are special courtroom procedures in place to protect the rights of youth offenders, even when their parents cannot or will not be present during their proceedings. Youth convictions have the possibility of painting the entire life’s story of the offender– minimizing the impact these criminal allegations may have on your life is critical to ensure your future success.

Call The Rodriguez Law Group to find out more about protecting you or your child’s rights as a juvenile criminal offender today. As an experienced Los Angeles juvenile crimes defense attorney, Attorney Ambrosio Rodriguez will ensure that all legal options are explored and that the best possible outcome is reached for your unique circumstances. Call us today.

To learn more, call our Los Angeles criminal defense law firm at 213-995-6767 or visit our contact us page to send us an email.