Juvenile Lawyers to Handle Your Child's Arrest

In New Jersey, juvenile delinquency proceedings differ from criminal cases in a number of important respects. Among them, juvenile proceedings take place in family court, and the goal of the juvenile justice process is to rehabilitate young offenders so that they can grow into contributing members of society. But, while the juvenile justice system may focus on rehabilitation rather than punishment, facing juvenile charges is still a serious matter, and an “adjudication of delinquency” can have consequences far beyond the sentence imposed by the family court judge. As a result, minors who are facing juvenile charges in New Jersey must defend themselves effectively.

Protecting Your Child's Rights in a Criminal Case

Juveniles enjoy most of the constitutional rights as similarly situated adults. Among the notable differences between the rights of juveniles whose matters are processed in family court and similarly situated adults, juveniles cannot demand a trial by jury and they are not entitled to an indictment before their matters proceed to trial. Like adults, juveniles are entitled to notice of the charges against them. In addition, juveniles have the right to confront their accusers, the right to remain silent, and the right to be represented by an attorney.  Call me today!