5 Issues You Might need to Know Concerning Juvenile Law Cases:
1. A child is not deemed a defendant but is a respondent. The nature of the proceeding is civil and not criminal. While a child is charged with a criminal offense, he or she is never found guilty but may well be found to be in need of rehabilitation.
2. A child charged with a dangerous offense may be held in a Juvenile Detention Center. A juvenile does not have a bond set and thus cannot post a bond and be released. A juvenile has the right to a detention hearing every 10 days and can seek release at that hearing. A family member will need to be available to take custody of the child and have a routine for supervision and be able to guarantee the child will turn up in court.
3. If the offense is truly serious enough, a child may be certified as an adult. If the child is certified as an adult, the case is transferred to the adult court system. At that point, a bond is set and the child may bond out. You have the right to contest Certification as an Adult at a hearing. Houston Juvenile Defense Lawyer Andy Nolen has successfully opposed certification of juveniles at hearings and won.
4. A child cannot be sentenced to jail or prison unless certified as an adult. Nevertheless, a child can be place in the custody of the probation department and moved to a juvenile center. Certain crimes provide for a child to be placed in the Texas Youth Commission (TYC).
5. Juvenile cases are different than adult cases. The laws applied are different, the judges are different and their are specialized prosecutors. It is really important to hire a lawyer with juvenile court experience. Houston Juvenile Defense Lawyer Andy Nolen has over 20 Years experience representing juveniles.
If your son, daughter, or child in your life has been charged with a juvenile offense, you should call Houston Juvenile Defense Lawyer Andy Nolen at 832-480-8951 for a totally free consultation.
