Juvenile Defense

We will help you navigate the juvenile court process from arraignment through disposition and will be here for you every step of the way. We will break down difficult legal concepts and explain your rights in terms that you can understand. We will also explain how the juvenile court process works and will keep you informed about what you need to know at every stage in the juvenile court process. We have the experience, knowledge, and passion for defending youth who are facing the juvenile court system.

Arraignment | Know Your Rights

At the arraignment hearing, a child is presented with the official petition filed by the State charging the child with delinquent criminal acts. These are acts that would be a criminal offense if committed by an adult. The court will advise a child of his or her rights in all juvenile court proceedings. Those rights include the right to remain silent and the right to counsel. A child also has a right to a trial (and in a trial, the burden is on the State to prove the child committed the delinquent offense beyond a reasonable doubt), the right to challenge any evidence presented against the child, the right to confront and cross-examine witnesses testifying against the child, and the right to compel witnesses to testify at the trial. 

At the arraignment hearing, after reading the charges the court will ask the child if they admit or deny the charges against them. If the child denies the charges, the case will proceed to the adjudicatory hearing.

Adjudication | Trial in Juvenile Court

The hearing where the judge determines whether a child committed a delinquent act is known as the “adjudicatory hearing.” This determination can occur via plea (if your child has accepted a plea offer) or by trial.

If a child does not accept a plea the prosecutor will present evidence to attempt to prove that a child committed the delinquent acts that are alleged in the petition. The standard of proof in juvenile court is beyond a reasonable doubt. The phrase “beyond a reasonable doubt” means that the evidence presented and the arguments put forward by the prosecution establish a child’s guilt so clearly that they must be accepted as fact by any rational person.

At this hearing, we will be able to introduce evidence of our own, compel witnesses to testify via subpoena, and confront and cross-examine any witnesses put forth by the prosecution. At the end of the hearing, the judge will make a determination whether a child has committed any or all of the delinquent acts alleged in the petition. If a judge finds the child committed a delinquent act, the case will proceed to disposition.

Disposition Hearing | Sentencing Hearing in Juvenile Court

The disposition hearing is essentially a sentencing hearing. During a disposition hearing, the judge will hear evidence and determine whether a child is “in need of treatment, rehabilitation, or supervision.” This hearing is the opportunity to offer mitigating evidence about a child that would have been inadmissible at the adjudication hearing. For example, school grades, extracurricular activities, and character letters are all admissible at this proceeding. Our goal is to paint the strongest and most positive picture of our clients to minimize the severity of the outcome imposed by the court.