In New Jersey, a juvenile is anyone under the age of 18. When juveniles break the law, they are treated a bit differently than when adults break the law. Despite this, juvenile offenders can face very significant penalties for breaking the law.
There are a few things that every juvenile offender and their legal guardian should know if faced with proceedings. First, when a juvenile commits a crime, it is not actually called a crime. It is called an offense. Secondly, even if a juvenile commits an offense when they are 17 but they turn 18 shortly after, they will still be treated as a juvenile because the crime did not happen as an adult. A few other quick notes about juvenile crimes are as follows:
- Any juvenile that has been charged with a crime is required to retain the services of an attorney. The parents or guardians are responsible for paying for the attorney unless the court agrees that it is financially impossible and appoints a public defender to the case.
- Most of the time, juvenile crimes are handled in the family division of the Superior Court.
- Some serious crimes can be moved to the adult criminal court and the juvenile will be charged as an adult, likely facing far more significant penalties.
If your child has been charged as a juvenile, contact our firm today.
If you have been charged with a crime in New Jersey, it is essential to retain the quality legal services of an experienced criminal defense attorney. Contact the Law Office of Michael A. Policastro today to schedule a consultation so we can discuss your situation.
