Juvenile Arrest Tips

JUVENILE ARREST TIPS

• People who are not yet 17 years old, if accused of criminal offenses or delinquency, are sent to Juvenile Court.
• The punishment in a juvenile case can be as serious as some adult punishments, depending on many variables.
  • Therefore, it is important to know how to fight the charges filed by the prosecuting attorney’s office.
• Records may later be sealed if your attorney is experienced in juvenile court.

JUVENILE COURT FACTS

• Juveniles can be arrested for the same kinds of criminal law violations as adults.
  • If your child is between 10 and 16 years old at the time of arrest, their case will be handled in juvenile court. If your child is 17 years of age or older, their case will be tried in adult court
  • If the crime is serious enough, some juveniles under age 17 can also be certified to stand trial in an adult court
• The juvenile court and its confinement facilities (Detention Center) are separate from those used for adults.
• A case filed in juvenile court involves a petition filed by the prosecutor alleging the juvenile engaged in a criminal law violation that is referred to as “delinquent conduct.”
  • The initial contact in the juvenile justice system, after the police officer, is usually a juvenile probation officer, who will gather information and try to inform you about what to expect
• YOU NEED AN ATTORNEY TO SUCCESSFULLY RESOLVE YOUR CHILD’S CASE
• Juvenile court is a serious court, with serious consequences.
  • If your child is adjudicated as a juvenile delinquent, he or she will have a criminal record, which could affect them if they are later charged with a crime as an adult
  • Juveniles may also receive indeterminate sentencing, in which they are sentenced to a juvenile detention center and then transferred to an adult prison when they turn 17
  • Some determinate sentences for some serious offenses, ranging up to 40 years imprisonment!
• Prompt intervention by an experienced lawyer can frequently improve the outcome. In those cases where a juvenile client’s guilt is clear, the Law Offices of Edwin J. Youngblood, will focus on the juvenile system’s resources in rehabilitation efforts to try to avoid negative, long-term consequences for your child.

CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES ACCUSATIONS

• Typically, these cases require the ability to separate emotional issues from legal and factual issues.
• They also require a meticulous review of the evidence, which may include retaining a forensic expert and/or a private investigator to help prepare your defense.

The Law Offices of Edwin J. Youngblood also handles CPS accusations of child abuse or injury in: Tarrant, Parker, and Wise Counties.

SCHOOL CONSEQUENCES

• A juvenile found guilty of a crime may face disciplinary consequences at school. Additionally, disciplinary rules in many school districts impose sanctions against a student, even before the criminal case is decided in court.
• The school district may require that your child attend an alternative school for a period of time. I can advise you on any school disciplinary process that affects your child.

Initial Consultation Free! Call (817) 236-4242 to schedule your appointment today.