Juvenile crimes – what you should know.
Juvenile crimes – what you should know.
Is your daughter or son arrested for juvenile crimes? If you answer yes to this question, it means that naturally, as a parent, you would surely be apprehensive of your daughter or son’s future. In as much as you refuse to admit it yourself, there is always the possibility of a good kid mixing up with the wrong kids, especially in school where they are always out of your sight. What then is juvenile crime? This is the crime that is committed by a child who is less than 18 years old.
What happens to my child after an arrest?
When a parent receives information that her child has been arrested, the first thing that normally comes to mind could be any of the two questions: will my child be returned home? Will my child be sent to a detention facility? Well, it all depends on the severity or how heinous the crime committed is, only then would it be determined whether your child would come back home to you or proceed to a detention facility designed specifically for juvenile delinquents.
How the juvenile justice system works
When your child is involved in any of the juvenile crimes and is made to face the juvenile justice system, it does not actually mean the end of the world for the child or for you. This is based on the fact that the system is only aimed towards the rehabilitation of juvenile offenders. They don’t work by imposing extreme punishments or penalties on the child. This though, becomes quiet different where the crime committed by your child is determined to be heinous, the juvenile justice system would have no option than to try that child as an adult. In this case, your son or daughter faces the same penalties that an adult offender would normally face under such crime.
Categories of juvenile crimes
When it comes to juvenile crimes, there is no limit as to what juveniles can do. Some of the crimes may range from drug possession, rape, battering, sexual assault, burglary, grand auto theft, vandalism, murder and manslaughter. There are also other mild categories of crime which almost every kid is naturally associated with and this includes but not limited to use of fake ID, underage DUI and underage drinking.
Juvenile trials
In a situation where your child is involved in a juvenile crime, you, as a parent, would naturally prefer your child’s case to be tried in a juvenile court as against the adult court. If tried in a juvenile court, there is every possibility of your coming out without any incarcerations but when it does occur, he or she may be lucky to get a short term. This is made possible by the fact that the juvenile justice system handles such cases with rehabilitative approaches.
Seeking the services of an experience juvenile crime attorney is the first step you should take towards ensuring that your child gets a fair hearing and trial.