Criminal - Juvenile
In California, juveniles can be prosecuted for the same crimes as adults. Although the goal of the juvenile justice system is to rehabilitate youthful offenders, in Santa Clara County the probation officers, police and prosecutors are as aggressive in the prosecution of juveniles as they are of adults.
Juvenile offenders in Santa Clara County who plead or are found guilty of crimes that qualify as “strikes” under California law may find themselves in a criminal prosecution when they are 18 or 19 years old, facing a “three strikes” case and potential life in prison because they admitted to two felony counts in a juvenile case when they were only 14 years old.
Most parents don’t realize that they can be held financially liable for monetary losses caused by crimes committed by their children under California law. The district attorneys office vigorously pursues restitution for victims in Santa Clara County.
If your child is arrested, you should consult with an attorney familiar with the judges and probation officers who work in Santa Clara County juvenile court immediately. One important difference between adult and juvenile cases is that juvenile cases proceed very quickly. Important decisions are made regarding your child within the first 48 hours of the arrest that can affect the later outcome of the case. For the best outcome, you should have an attorney present for the first interview with the probation department if possible.
Another important difference from adult court is that, except in rare cases, minors are not entitled to a jury trial under juvenile law. This means a judge, good or bad, will hear the evidence and render a verdict.
Your lawyer will need to know juvenile law thoroughly to competently represent the minor. Several programs exist for less serious cases that can earn your child a dismissal of the charges against him or her. The differences between the various programs should be carefully reviewed by an attorney familiar with all available options in order to proceed with the program most likely to result in having your child’s charges dismissed It is important that you hire a skillful and experienced Santa Clara County juvenile criminal defense attorney knowledgeable in juvenile law to defend your son or daughter.