A juvenile offender is someone under 17 years old who has been charged with a delinquent act or a status offense. A delinquent act is something that would be a crime if committed by an adult, while a status offense is only a crime when committed by a juvenile (for example, being a runaway). A complaining witness – who may be a police officer, a school official, or an ordinary citizen - signs a petition describing the basis of the charges. Generally, juvenile court hearings are scheduled fairly quickly, within a month or two of the charges.
Since the goal of juvenile courts is to rehabilitate young offenders, the judge’s role during the hearing is not to determine guilt. Instead, the judge determines whether the juvenile committed the act, and what course of action should be taken to ensure he or she becomes a rehabilitated member of society. During the hearing, evidence will be presented and there may be witnesses who testify about the events in question. Juvenile offenders have the right to an attorney and should retain a lawyer to represent them. However, unlike adult trials, press and spectators are typically not allowed to view the proceedings, unless a judge allows it. Juvenile hearings are also conducted exclusively by the judge, without a jury present.
Dealing with charges as a juvenile offender can be intimidating. Contacting an experienced juvenile defense attorney is essential to ensure you and your loved ones are protected. In addition to hearings in juvenile court, similar issues can also arise during school board disciplinary hearings. To learn more about what happens in these types of hearings, please read next week’s installment of my blog. In the meantime, I welcome your questions and comments on this topic!