Juvenile Cases
A crime is designated a juvenile crime if the accused is a child under the age of 18. While juvenile crimes can carry harsh penalties in some situations, these crimes are governed by a separate set of court procedures than crimes committed by adults. Criminal offenders under the age of 18 are tried in juvenile court. As opposed to the adult criminal court system, juvenile cases in most instances do not go before a jury. A judge will assess all the evidence in the case, hear any testimony, and decide what punishments, if any, should be imposed upon the juvenile. The penalties associated with juvenile crimes differ from adults in that juvenile penalties focus on rehabilitation instead of punishment. While most juvenile crime convictions are indeed focused on rehabilitation, certain crimes, such as violent felony offenses or serious sex offenses, automatically allow the prosecutor to charge the juvenile as an adult. Generally, only juveniles 14 years or older can potentially be tried as adults. Minors under 14 years of age will not normally be subject to being tried as adults. Contact the Firm for a free evaluation of your juvenile matter.