Has your son or daughter been accused of a crime in Stanislaus, Sacramento, or Fresno County?
Anyone can be accused of committing a crime, regardless of whether they are a minor or an adult. However, the handling of criminal accusations against minors differs from those against adults. Minors under the age of seven can never face charges in a juvenile court, while those aged eight and above can be.
If your child or teen has been accused of a crime, you are undoubtedly worried about how such a criminal offense will affect his or her future. You can turn to FORKNER, ORLANDO & ECHEVARRIA for the help you need. We can provide the critical advice and guidance you need when navigating the juvenile court process. We understand how important it is to help minors avoid a criminal record that could negatively impact them for life. Our team is well-versed in these matters and ready to defend your child to achieve the best possible result.
Reach out to a Modesto, CA, juvenile crimes attorney at LAW OFFICES OF ROBERT L. FORKNER for legal help by contacting us online or at (209) 544-0200. Your initial consultation is free. Hablamos Español.
Common juvenile crimes can include:
The California juvenile court system has been established on the idea that minors should not be treated the same way as adults in criminal cases. The aim of these courts is generally to rehabilitate rather than punish, while still protecting the public. Thus, juveniles have their own courts, detention centers, procedures, and rules. The juvenile justice process follows when a minor is arrested for an offense. Where offenses are not serious, law enforcement may only give the child a warning and let him or her go. The child may also receive a citation, which means he or she will need to appear in court at a later time but will still be allowed to go. Where the offense is serious, the minor may be taken to juvenile hall.
When a minor is subject to juvenile court, prosecutors can make decisions, such as whether to file formal charges for a crime, resolve the matter off the record, or completely dismiss the incident. They will look at many factors when determining whether to file charges or not. These factors can include the minor’s age, the nature and seriousness of the offense, the available evidence, whether the minor has committed prior offenses, parental responsibility, and more.
Minors have rights just like any adult. They have the right to remain silent, the right to an attorney, and the right to understand that anything they say can be used against them.
Court proceedings for juveniles can include detention hearings to decide whether they should remain in the juvenile hall while their case is pending, transfer hearings to decide if they should be transferred to an adult court to be tried as an adult, adjudication, which occurs when they appear before a judge who determines their guilt or innocence, and deposition hearings where they are “sentenced.” Sentences can range from community service hours to restitution to victims, counseling, or being sent to alternate living facilities or to California’s detention/rehabilitation centers for serious offenses.
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