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Juvenile Criminal Law |
What is a juvenile crime?
A juvenile crime is any crime that is committed by a minor under the
age of 18 years old. In severe criminal acts, such as homicide, rape,
or any other violent crime, a juvenile may be tried as an adult in
criminal court.
How is a juvenile crime different?
A juvenile law crime is different from an adult crime in the way the
matter is handled after the crime occurs. It is important to remember
that every state has its own laws governing the specifics of juvenile
crimes, but there are some common factors that are consistent in most
states:
- Different court If the juvenile is not being tried as
an adult, then the court proceedings will take place in juvenile court
as a civil proceeding.
- No permanent record In many states, a juveniles record is sealed after a certain amount of time and depending on the offense.
- No jury trial Except under special circumstances,
juveniles do not have the right to a trial by jury. In some situations
a special jury may be appointed to act as a fact-finder for the court.
If convicted
If the charges are found to be true, the juvenile may be subject to:
- Time in a juvenile detention center
- House arrest
- Fines
- Community service
- Probation
Factors affecting sentence
- Severity of the offense
- Prior convictions
- Injuries caused as a result the offense
- Current probation or parole status
In all juvenile law matters, it is recommended that you seek
professional legal assistance to protect your interests. A lawyer who
has experience in this area of law can give legal advice that will
assist you with the matter and will ensure that the judicial process is
properly followed. |
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