Protect Your Child Against Juvenile Delinquency Charges
In Pennsylvania, a juvenile is someone who is over the age of ten but under the age of 18. If they committed a crime before turning 18, they are typically tried as juveniles unless they reach 21 years old before their trial is over. When charged with a crime as a juvenile, the offender will be prosecuted in a different court, with different expectations and punishments for their crimes.
If your child is facing juvenile charges, you need an attorney who understands the intricacies of juvenile law. Juvenile criminals face different struggles in juvenile court that our legal team can take advantage of. Schedule a consultation with our criminal defense attorneys as soon as possible.
What Are Juvenile Crimes?
Juvenile crimes are criminal acts committed by those under the age of 18 and over the age of 10. They are not crimes that an adult could potentially go to prison for life for committing. For example, if someone under 18 is accused of murder, they will be tried in court as an adult. Their crime will not be considered a juvenile crime despite the accused being a minor.
Other crimes, such as drug trafficking or sex crimes, will likely see a juvenile of any age be tried as an adult. Someone younger than 10 may also be tried as a juvenile or adult if the charges are serious enough. A child younger than 9 will commonly be assumed to not understand what they have done. Instead, the parents will be expected – and sometimes forced – to pay restitution.
As a parent of a child who is facing or may face a criminal charge in the future, you should know that some juvenile crimes are more common than others. Knowing what crimes juveniles are likely to commit can help you steer your child toward the right path and have an idea of what to expect if they make a mistake.
How Are Juvenile Crimes Punished Differently Than Adult Crimes?
Punishments for juvenile crimes differ from those for adults primarily in their focus and approach. The juvenile justice system emphasizes rehabilitation over punishment. Juvenile detention aims to guide minors towards a more positive path. Juvenile detention often involves alternatives like:
- Probation
- Diversionary programs
- Counseling
While juvenile detention centers can include incarceration, juvenile courts try to avoid it. In contrast, the adult criminal justice system is more punitive. Adult prisons are more focused on punishment and deterrence, though statistics don’t exactly prove this successful.
Additionally, juvenile criminals are “adjudicated delinquents” rather than “convicted,” and they don’t face jury trials. The overall goal for juveniles is to rehabilitate and reintegrate them into society, whereas, for adults, it’s more about serving justice and protecting the public.
11 Common Juvenile Charges You Should Know About
These are not the only crimes that juveniles can commit. These are the crimes that can be tried in juvenile court.
- Drug Use: This is someone consuming, ingesting, or otherwise putting drugs into their system. In this instance, drugs are illegal, mind-altering substances. A juvenile will go to juvenile court for drug use no matter what drug they were using.
- Vandalism: This is the destruction of another entity’s property. Vandalism can take the form of graffiti paint, breaking property, or even setting property on fire.
- Assault & Battery: Assault, which is the threat of violence, will typically lead to your child being charged as a juvenile, not an adult. The threat would have to be on the point of terrorism for them to be charged as an adult. Battery, or physical harm to someone, can see your juvenile charged as an adult depending on the damage they caused.
- Larceny: Theft is an umbrella term to explain crimes where someone steals from another. A case of larceny is a form of theft where someone steals a physical object from someone else without breaking & entering, or assault & battery being involved.
- Shoplifting: This is another type of theft crime where someone steals physical items from a store.
- Disorderly Conduct: Disorderly conduct is when a police officer deems someone’s behavior to be disturbing the peace.
- Trespassing: This is being on someone’s property for an extended period without permission or outside of work hours.
- Property Crimes: These crimes occur when someone’s property is destroyed or damaged without threatening or causing the victim personal injury.
- Weapon Possession: Juveniles are not legally allowed to carry or possess weapons, not even knives. It is illegal for adults to sell or transfer ownership to them. If a child takes a weapon from someone else, it can potentially incriminate them if it is not a case of theft.
- DUI: It is illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to drink alcoholic substances, but that does not stop them from doing so, nor does it stop them from getting behind the wheel.
- Sexual Offenses: Most cases of sexual assault would see juvenile delinquency tried as adults, though cases of harassment would likely not.
Contact Pike Law to Help Your Child With a Juvenile Delinquency Charge
Being found guilty of a juvenile charge can affect your child for the rest of their life. Mistakes happen, and children will make more mistakes than anyone. The right legal team can make sure that your child’s future is not jeopardy.
To learn more about your child’s options and what to do next, contact the legal team at Pike Law today. We’re here to help.
