Juvenile Matters

Juvenile court consists of persons under the age of eighteen charged with either a felony or a misdemeanor.  The juvenile system differs in many ways from the adult criminal justice system.  The biggest difference is that trials in juvenile court consist of a bench (or judge) trial.  There are no jury trials in juvenile court.  However, if a person is convicted in juvenile court, there is still the possibility of commitment (incarceration) and/or community control (probation).  Depending on the allegation, a person under the age of eighteen may be charged as an adult.  Either way, juveniles still have the same rights as adults such as due process, the right to remain silent and requiring that charges be proven beyond a reasonable doubt before there is a conviction.  If you need representation for a juvenile matter, contact the office to schedule a consultation.