Has your child been charged with a juvenile crime? Call expert juvenile crime defense attorney Torrence L Howell now.
Being accused of a crime and put through a trial is traumatic for anyone, but especially for a child. If your child has been charged with a juvenile crime, you need to get help from an expert southern California juvenile crime defense lawyer like Torrence L Howell right away.
Types of Juvenile Crime
There are two main categories of juvenile crime: status offenses and delinquency crimes. Status offenses are things that would not be a crime if the juvenile was of age, and include truancy, curfew violations, and underage drinking. Delinquency offenses are things that would be crimes regardless of the perpetrator’s age. In general, both status offense and delinquency crime cases are presented to a judge rather than tried before a jury. However, a jury trial may be required in cases where the juvenile is accused of a serious crime and is eligible to be tried as an adult.
Consequences of a Juvenile Crime Conviction
Convictions for juvenile crimes can result in a wide variety of sentences or “dispositions,” as the judge’s ruling in a juvenile crime case is called. A minor could end up serving informal probation, paying a fine, performing community service, or being committed to juvenile hall or juvenile prison. While having a criminal record following them around after a conviction is a big concern for adults, it is less of a concern for minors because most types of juvenile crime records will be eligible for expungement later on. In fact, some records will be automatically expunged if the minor successfully completes their sentence and stays out of trouble for a set amount of time afterwards.
Possible Legal Defenses for Juvenile Crime Charges
The legal defenses that a criminal defense lawyer may employ in a juvenile crime case are as varied as the types of juvenile crimes that exist. In general, a juvenile crime defense attorney will seek to establish a reasonable doubt as to the minor’s guilt so that the judge cannot find them guilty. The attorney may also seek to prove that the offense was not committed of the minor’s free will. For example, extenuating circumstances could be argued for truancy cases or curfew violation cases.
Why Choose Torrence L Howell as your Juvenile Crime Defense Lawyer in Southern California
Over his many years as a criminal defense attorney, Torrence L Howell has seen plenty of cases where difficult family situations spur kids to act out through status offenses, as well as more serious delinquency crimes. Torrence L. Howell is committed to helping these juveniles overcome youthful errors as quickly as possible so that they may go on to become successful adults. You can rely on Torrence L. Howell to fight aggressively for the best possible outcome in your child’s case.
