We all remember being children and how easy it was to get enticed into breaking rules; sometimes minor things like sneaking out and sometimes bigger things like underage drinking or smoking. As young people, juveniles are prone to make mistakes and from them learn life lessons, and in some cases those lessons mean getting in trouble with the law. Whatever the case may be, a deliberate act or a juvenile mistake, each of these kids deserve the chance to fight for their future and seek lesser or no punishment from the law.
A juvenile is considered to be any person who is under the age of 18, and therefore is a minor in the eyes of the law. Generally when a minor is arrested for a criminal act the common charges often include things lie drugs, underage drinking, violence, violation of probation and the like. Juveniles who are accused of a crime are considered then as delinquents. When these children are accused of this crime, there are certain cases for which the court can decide to charge a minor as an adult. Sadly, these cases are for those crimes that are deemed as more serious or in the event that the juvenile has been in trouble with the law previously.
Depending on the state you live in the court can apply for a juvenile court waiver, therefore seeking to charge the minor as an adult. For some states the minor must be at least 16 years of age, for other states it depends more on the charges placed against them. Generally the wavier is applied for if the minor is older, if the crime they are accused of is severe, or if they have a record of offenses. While being charged as an adult for a crime can appear to be a lot to handle, there are some advantages.
For example, in juvenile court there is usually no right to trial by jury. By being in an adult court the minor has the opportunity for a fair hearing by way of a jury, who may be more sympathetic than a single judge in juvenile court. A disadvantage is that there may be more severe consequences to the minor if they are convicted of the crime, and can have a harsher effect on their future as opposed to a juvenile charge. Also, it is much easier for a person to have their records sealed (or expunged) when they were committed as a minor, if they are tried as an adult that process will be more difficult.
Fortunately, when children are charged as juveniles for their actions there is a greater chance of a lesser punishment for their actions. The reasoning for this is because of the fact that children are still learning about life and obedience, and in some cases the court will decide their punishment based on the fact that they didn't know any better or they are still able to change. Youth are more likely to be able to learn different methods through mental treatments, simple obedience training, and more structure in their lives as opposed to an adult who is set in their ways.
Whatever state you live in, every juvenile accused of a crime deserves the opportunity to fight for their future just as much, if not even more so, than an adult. Minors have all of their lives ahead of them, and when they are accused of a crime there is a possibility that much of their adult life will be taken away from them if they are sent to years behind bars. Criminal defense attorneys take juvenile crimes very seriously, because there is so much at stake. Contact one close to you today if your son or daughter has been accused of a crime.
