Juvenile Cases & WHY YOU NEED AN ATTORNEY
Most juvenile cases begin with either an arrest and detention or a summons to appear. Juveniles that are detained must be seen by a judge in order to continue the detention. Juveniles that are not detained are mailed a copy of the allegations made against them along with a letter advising them to appear with parents or guardian at an intake conference. The purpose of this meeting is to “get to know” the juvenile and his or her family.
After the intake conference, the case goes to court for a trial, called an Adjudication Hearing. A trial in a juvenile courtroom involves no jurors – only the judge decides if the delinquent (or criminal act) was proven by the Commonwealth beyond a reasonable doubt. After an adjudication, and if the juvenile is deemed by the judge to be delinquent, she or he will be placed on probation. This may involve the juvenile’s removal from the home, community service, weekends away from home, etc.
Following adjudication, a juvenile will return to court periodically for review hearings. These are done to determine the juveniles’ progress on probation.
Criminal Defense Attorney Consultation and Representation
Lawyers that practice often in juvenile court, such as Mr. Logan, are often asked about expunging juvenile court records. The answer to the question is complex and depends on the charges to which the juvenile was deemed delinquent, whether the District Attorney consented to the expungement, whether the case resolved without an adjudication (by placement on a consent decree or informal adjustment), and other matters. The only way to answer the question is consultation with an experienced criminal defense lawyer, such as Mr. Logan, knowledgeable about juvenile provisions of the criminal history records act.