Juvenile court
Juvenile court, from the first notice to the last order
A juvenile case has its own court, its own words and its own pace. The charge is usually a petition or complaint, the first hearing is often short, and many cases end by agreement. What the court can order is wider than a fine: classes, counseling, a curfew, community hours, probation.
I begin by reading the paper you were handed and telling you what each line means. Then I write down the options.
What I take
Charges that bring families here
Drug and alcohol charges
Possession, vaping and cannabis cases, and the school consequences that follow.
Theft and shoplifting
Store cases, taking from a friend or an employer, and receiving stolen property.
Cars and joyriding
Taking a car without asking, driving without a license and damage to a vehicle.
Messages and photos
Threats sent online, shared images and accounts used to harass.
Vandalism
Graffiti, broken windows and damage to school or public property.
Step by step
How a case moves
- 01
Step 1: The notice
A summons, a call from the police or a letter from the court. Bring it to the first call, and ask your child not to explain it to anyone yet.
- 02
Step 2: The first court date
Short, and mostly about the charge and the next steps. I stand beside your child, and you sit right behind.
- 03
Step 3: The plan and the talks
I read the records, talk with the prosecutor and the probation officer, and write down what each option would mean.
- 04
Step 4: The hearing or the agreement
Most cases end by agreement. If yours needs a hearing, we prepare for it together, step by step.
- 05
Step 5: After the order
I explain every condition in writing and note the dates. When the time comes, we talk about sealing the record.
Questions
What parents ask first
Should my child talk to the police or school staff?
Not before we've spoken. A child's explanation, however honest, can be read as an admission. Be polite, say you would like to speak with a lawyer first, and call me.
Who is my client, me or my child?
Your child. The charge is against them and they decide, with my advice, what happens. I'll keep you informed and listen to you, but I can't take direction from a parent that goes against your child's interests.
Does the case go on a permanent record?
Juvenile records are usually handled differently from adult ones, and many can later be sealed, but the rules depend on the charge and the state. I'll tell you what applies to your case.
Can a juvenile case be moved to adult court?
For a few serious charges, yes. If that's possible in your case, I'll say so in the first meeting and what we do about it.
Bring the paper you were handed
Bring the summons, the notice or the letter from school, and the court date if you have one. We'll start from what it says.