Juvenile Law Lawyers

Juvenile Law Lawyers Across the United States

The juvenile justice system operates separately from adult courts, with its own rules, procedures, and goals. It focuses on rehabilitation rather than punishment. A juvenile law attorney represents minors facing delinquency charges, status offenses, or dependency proceedings and works to protect their rights at every stage.

What Juvenile Law Covers

Juvenile delinquency cases involve minors accused of acts that would be crimes if committed by adults. These range from shoplifting and vandalism to more serious felony-level offenses. Attorneys in this area handle arraignments, detention hearings, adjudications, and disposition hearings.

Status offenses — like truancy, curfew violations, and underage drinking — apply only to minors. Juvenile law also covers dependency and neglect proceedings where a child may be removed from their home. Some cases involve transfer or waiver hearings, where prosecutors seek to try a minor as an adult.

When to Hire a Juvenile Law Attorney

• Your child has been arrested or detained by law enforcement
• A school disciplinary action could lead to criminal charges or expulsion
• The state is seeking to transfer your child's case to adult court
• Child Protective Services has filed a dependency petition involving your family
• Your child needs representation at a disposition hearing to argue for alternatives to detention

How the Juvenile Court Process Works

After an arrest, the minor typically goes through an intake process where a probation officer decides whether to handle the matter informally or refer it to the prosecutor. About 55% of juvenile cases are handled through formal petitions in court, according to the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.

If a petition is filed, the case moves to an adjudication hearing, which is the juvenile equivalent of a trial. There is no jury — a judge determines the facts. If the court finds the minor committed the alleged act, a disposition hearing follows where the judge decides the outcome, which could include probation, community service, counseling, or placement in a juvenile facility.

How Outcomes Are Determined in Juvenile Cases

• Severity of the offense — violent offenses carry stricter consequences than property crimes or status offenses
• The minor's prior record and history with the juvenile system
• Availability of community-based treatment programs or diversion options
• School performance, family environment, and mental health evaluations
• Whether the minor shows accountability and willingness to participate in rehabilitation programs

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my child have a permanent criminal record?

In most jurisdictions, juvenile records are sealed or confidential and do not follow a person into adulthood. Many states allow expungement of juvenile records once the minor reaches a certain age or completes their sentence. However, cases transferred to adult court create adult records that are much harder to seal.

Can a juvenile be tried as an adult?

Yes. Prosecutors can request a waiver or transfer hearing to move a case to adult court. Judges consider the minor's age, the seriousness of the charge, prior history, and whether the juvenile system can adequately address the situation. Most states set a minimum age of 14 or 15 for transfer, though this varies.