Most juvenile offenses are nonviolent or drug-related offenses that are not particularly serious in nature. Common charges against juveniles include drug possession, unlawful possession of alcohol, driving under the influence, shoplifting, assault, and criminal mischief. If a juvenile is convicted of a crime, it will be placed on his or her criminal record and negatively impact their life moving forward. With the potential to have limitations placed on your child’s future, having a juvenile crimes lawyer on your side is critical.
If your loved one has been arrested and charged with a juvenile offense, a conviction has the potential to severely hinder his or her life. If convicted of a crime, juveniles may be unable to pursue certain educational or employment opportunities. With your child’s future on the line, it is vital that you consult with an aggressive attorney who has the knowledge and skills to help your child through a rough time.
Alva & Moscow, LLC represents minors facing charges in and around Philadelphia, New Jersey, Bucks County, Montgomery County, Chester County and Delaware County. Call us today at (215) 665-1695 so we can begin fighting for your child.
Juvenile proceedings begin when a district attorney or member of law enforcement files a petition with the court. In a hearing, a judge hears the evidence against the juvenile and makes a decision on his or her guilt or innocence. If the judge determines that the child is guilty, he or she will be adjudicated of the crime. After being adjudicated, the juvenile has 30 days to appeal the judge’s decision.
In Pennsylvania, a delinquent is any child who is 10 or older who has been adjudicated guilty of a delinquent act. Once adjudicated guilty of a crime, the delinquent will be subject to treatment, supervision, and other rehabilitative measures.
In some cases, the district attorney will offer deferred adjudication to juvenile offenders. If the juvenile completes predetermined requirements within a given period of time, he or she will have the charges against them dropped. Some of the requirements of deferred adjudication could be:
If the juvenile fails to complete the requirements of deferred adjudication, or violates a provision of the program, deferred adjudication will be taken off the table and the juvenile will be penalized for his or her crime, and have the offense placed on their criminal record.
Alva & Moscow, LLC serves clients in and around Philadelphia, Delaware County, Montgomery County, and Chester County who have been charged with juvenile offenses. We are dedicated to protecting the rights of our clients and fighting to preserve their freedom. In order to protect your child’s future, contact us today at (215) 665-1695, and let us begin preparing a strong defense.
Juvenile proceedings under the Juvenile Act, 42 Pa.C.S. § 6301 and following, are adjudications of delinquency rather than convictions, and the stated purpose is treatment and rehabilitation rather than punishment. There is no jury, hearings are generally closed, and dispositions focus on supervision, services, and placement. A juvenile adjudication is not a criminal conviction.
Yes. Murder is excluded from juvenile jurisdiction at any age, and certain serious offenses committed at 15 or older with a deadly weapon are filed directly in adult court. In those cases the defense petitions for decertification back to juvenile court, and the court weighs the child's age, maturity, prior record, and amenability to treatment.
Yes. A delinquency adjudication can result in out-of-home placement, DNA registration, school expulsion, loss of driving privileges, and in some offenses sex offender registration that follows the child into adulthood. Parents frequently underestimate these consequences because the proceeding is described as rehabilitative.
Yes, and it is more accessible than adult expungement. Juvenile records can generally be expunged when the case was dismissed, when the child completed a consent decree, or five years after discharge from supervision if the person has been free of further offenses. Expungement is not automatic - a petition must be filed.
A consent decree suspends the proceedings and places the child under court supervision, typically for six months, without an adjudication of delinquency. If the terms are completed successfully the petition is dismissed and the record can be expunged. It is the juvenile system's closest equivalent to ARD and is often the best available outcome.
Juvenile records are confidential and are not reported on standard employment background checks, but they are accessible to law enforcement, the courts, and some licensing and military screening. Adjudications for certain serious offenses can also count toward a Prior Record Score if the person is later charged as an adult.
Pennsylvania allows police to question a minor, and school administrators can search students on a lower standard than police. A child can invoke the right to remain silent and ask for a parent and a lawyer. Tell your child to say clearly that they want a parent and an attorney present, and to say nothing else.
Finding The Best
If you are facing any kind of injustice, be it a wrongful criminal accusation or being injured by the negligence of another, a fearless Philadelphia attorney from Alva & Moscow, LLC can fight zealously for your rights. We can serve as your criminal defense lawyer or your personal injury attorney. We apply our principles of aggressive representation to seek the best results for you.
We represent clients throughout the Philadelphia area, including Bucks, Chester, Montgomery and Delaware Counties, as well as Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
