Legal trouble at a young age can change the trajectory of a young person’s life. If your child has been charged with a crime in the Detroit metro area, you cannot afford to trust their case to an untested attorney. Instead, contact the Law Office of John Freeman for highly skilled criminal defense lawyers experienced in providing legal help from a former prosecutor.
Approximately 80% of juvenile court referrals involve the police. The remaining referrals are by concerned parents, school authorities, other professionals, or private citizens. Only about 50% of juvenile court referrals receive a formal intervention. The rest are dismissed for lack of evidence or handled informally, which is a common approach for first-time offenders who commit nonviolent, nonserious crimes. In such cases, the youth is released into parental custody. It may be required to participate in counseling or informal meetings with a probation officer to monitor and control a child’s behavior.
Protecting Your Child’s Future Against Juvenile Crime Charges
Formal interventions occur when a delinquency petition has been filed, and the youth has been adjudicated (i.e., there was evidence to support the allegations in the petition). Formal interventions usually require the assignment of a probation officer who meets regularly with the youth, along with other specialized treatment, including institutional placements. Only about five percent of all juvenile court referrals result in institutionalization.
Juvenile court can sometimes seem very informal, but the consequences of adjudication there can be serious. Certain cases carry mandatory driver’s license suspensions, fines, and very expensive treatment programs that must be paid for (in part or in whole) by the parent. In some of the more serious cases, jurisdiction in juvenile court can result in the juvenile’s commitment or incarceration well into adulthood. In cases of alleged sexual abuse, adjudication in juvenile court can result in lifetime registration as a sex offender.
School disciplinary processes, while not part of the criminal justice system, may also result in long-term negative consequences for students accused of violations such as:
- Alcohol possession or underage drinking
- Drug abuse or distribution, or campus rule violations like taking over-the-counter medications without a school nurse’s supervision
- Bullying, assault, sexual assault, cyberstalking, or cyberbullying
- Sexual misconduct or sexual harassment
- Smoking, vaping, or consumption of banned tobacco products or products that mimic illegal drugs
- Vandalism or intrusion into off-limits areas on campus
- Plagiarism, cheating, slander, or libel
What are the legal rights of adjudicated youth?
- Have a right to know what they have been accused of
- Have a right to legal representation
- To question witnesses
- Are guaranteed protection against self-incrimination
- Access to the transcript of the court proceedings
- Have the right to appeal the conviction
Common Juvenile Delinquency Warning Signs
- A brain injury has affected the child
- Inadequate support is being provided for the child’s learning disability
- Appropriate services are not in place to help manage the child’s severe emotional disturbance
- Abuse by a family member has affected the child
- Exposure to physical or verbal abuse between family members has impacted the child
- Drug or alcohol abuse is present among members of the child’s household
- Consistent discipline is lacking
- Meaningful relationships with family members have not been established
- Parental separation or divorce is causing stress
- Poor neighborhood conditions are affecting the child’s well-being
- Academic performance has declined or remains below expectations
- Negative peer influences are affecting the child’s behavior or decision-making
- Limited interests, hobbies, and social involvement may be contributing to the child’s difficulties
- Frequent moves have disrupted the child’s stability
Discuss Your Child’s Rights and Options During a Free Consultation
In case of any legal trouble or school disciplinary actions, contact an experienced criminal defense attorney. Call 248-250-9950 or contact us online. Do not leave your child’s future to chance.