{"id":352420,"date":"2024-01-24T14:15:53","date_gmt":"2024-01-24T19:15:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/criminal\/juvenile-justice\/criminal-procedure-in-juvenile-court.html"},"modified":"2024-01-24T14:15:53","modified_gmt":"2024-01-24T19:15:53","slug":"criminal-procedure-in-juvenile-court","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/juvenile-justice\/criminal-procedure-in-juvenile-court.html","title":{"rendered":"Criminal Procedure in Juvenile Court"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 fl-sectionWithSidebar fl-container fl-flex fl-flex-wrap fl-gap30\">\n    \n    <div class=\"fl-page-articles fl-section-main fl-section-main-full-width\">\n        <h1 class=\"fl-no-margin-top\">Criminal Procedure in Juvenile Court<\/h1>\n<section class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline\">\n    <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-content\">\n                    By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/linda-sanabria-j-d\/\">Linda Sanabria, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by <a\n                href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/rhonda-earhart-esq\/\">Rhonda Earhart, Esq.<\/a>\n                | Last updated\n        <time>\n                            January 24, 2024\n                    <\/time>\n    <\/div>\n\n    \n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-legally-reviewed\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Legally Reviewed\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team.html\">FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/company-history\/editorial-policy.html\">our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n\n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-fast-checked\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Fact-Checked\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/contributing-authors.html\">contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please <a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/?fli=bylinelink\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n<\/section>\n    <div class=\"fl-callout-text article-blockquote\">\n        <p>Minors can be vulnerable if tried in adult criminal court. As a result, they are usually tried&nbsp;in juvenile court. There are protections built into juvenile court proceedings, such as sealing juvenile records and prohibiting the death penalty for crimes committed by minors.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n<p>The criminal proceedings for juvenile cases differ from those in the adult criminal justice system. This difference spans from the procedure used when a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/juvenile-justice\/police-questioning-of-minors.html\">police officer questions a minor suspect<\/a> to the effect that a criminal conviction has on a juvenile&#8217;s permanent record.<\/p>\r\n<p>Even with the legal protections of juvenile court, a criminal charge can still have lasting consequences for a minor. If your child is involved in the juvenile justice system, expert legal representation is essential. Contact a local <a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/criminal-law\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">criminal law attorney<\/a> today for help.<\/p>\r\n<p>This section:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Describes the steps in the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/juvenile-justice.html\">juvenile justice system<\/a>\u00a0and court process<\/li>\r\n<li>Lists the situations in which the court will try a juvenile as an adult<\/li>\r\n<li>Offers guidance for choosing a juvenile justice attorney<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2>Definition of a Juvenile<\/h2>\r\n<p>Most jurisdictions consider a juvenile a person between the ages of 10 and 18. Some state laws set the maximum juvenile age as 16. Anyone over a state&#8217;s given age limit is tried as an adult. But there are times when juvenile crimes are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/juvenile-justice\/how-do-juvenile-proceedings-differ-from-adult-criminal-proceeding.html\">tried as adult crimes<\/a>. These situations are reserved for juveniles who commit exceptionally violent or serious offenses.<\/p>\r\n<h2>Police Questioning of Minors Without Parental Present<\/h2>\r\n<p>Minors have rights, just like adults. Minors have a right against self-incrimination and a right to an attorney, among other constitutional rights. This means that cops must read a minor their Miranda rights upon arrest in situations where they would be required to read them to an adult.<\/p>\r\n<p>Law enforcement is generally<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/juvenile-justice\/police-questioning-of-minors.html\">\u00a0allowed to question minors\u00a0<\/a>without their parents&#8217; approval or presence. There is no requirement that parents must consent before their children are interviewed. But the juvenile interrogation must be voluntary.<\/p>\r\n<h2>Sealing and Expunging Juvenile Records<\/h2>\r\n<p>If you went to court due to juvenile delinquency, you may be able to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/juvenile-justice\/juvenile-court-procedure.html\">get the record sealed<\/a>. This includes records held by law enforcement officers, the district attorney, probation, and the courts. When the court orders your records sealed, it means they are no longer available to the public. But, criminal justice agencies or government organizations can still access a sealed record with a court order.<\/p>\r\n<p>Getting your record sealed is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/expungement\/what-s-the-difference-between-expunged-vs--sealed-records-.html\">different from expungement<\/a><span style=\"margin: 0.0px;padding: 0.0px;\">. Expungement<\/span>\u00a0means the offense that brought you to court no longer exists by law. You can legally and truthfully say you do not have a criminal record when asked about your criminal history. There may be an exception to this if you want to join the military or get a federal security clearance.<\/p>\r\n<p>Both sealing and expunging your juvenile records may make it easier for you to:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Find a job<\/li>\r\n<li>Get a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/traffic\/drivers-license-vehicle-info\/driver-s-licenses-faq.html\">driver&#8217;s license<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li>Secure a loan<\/li>\r\n<li>Rent an apartment<\/li>\r\n<li>Go to college<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2>Juveniles and the Death Penalty<\/h2>\r\n<p>In March 2005, the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/juvenile-justice\/juveniles-and-the-death-penalty.html#:~:text=The%20landmark%20case%20of%20Roper%20v.%20Simmons%20overruled,the%20time%20of%20the%20commission%20of%20the%20crime.\">U.S. Supreme Court ruled<\/a>\u00a0that the death penalty was cruel and unusual punishment for those who had committed their crimes when under 18 years of age and, thus, barred by the Constitution. The death penalty for juvenile offenders has been banned by nations in large part due to the express provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and several other international treaties and agreements.<\/p>\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amnesty.org\/en\/what-we-do\/death-penalty\/#:~:text=Since%201990%20Amnesty%20International%20has,Sudan%2C%20the%20USA%20and%20Yemen.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u00a0Since 1990,<\/a>\u00a0juvenile offenders are known to have been executed in countries including:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>China<\/li>\r\n<li>The Democratic Republic of Congo<\/li>\r\n<li>Iran<\/li>\r\n<li>Pakistan<\/li>\r\n<li>Yemen<\/li>\r\n<li>Nigeria<\/li>\r\n<li>Saudi Arabia<\/li>\r\n<li>Sudan<\/li>\r\n<li>South Sudan<\/li>\r\n<li>The United States<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2>Situations in Which a Juvenile Can Be Tried as an Adult<\/h2>\r\n<p>The decision <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/juvenile-justice\/juvenile-waiver-transfer-to-adult-court.html\">to try a juvenile as an adult<\/a> is typically based on various factors and varies across jurisdictions. A mere misdemeanor is not enough for a juvenile to be tried as an adult. Some common determining factors include:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><b>Seriousness of the offense<\/b>:\u00a0Juveniles may be tried as adults for particularly serious crimes such as murder, aggravated assault, or sexual offenses.<\/li>\r\n<li><b>Age and maturity<\/b>:\u00a0Some jurisdictions consider the age of the juvenile. Older adolescents may be more likely to be tried as adults, especially if they are close to the age of majority.<\/li>\r\n<li><b>Criminal history<\/b>:\u00a0A juvenile with a history of criminal activity may be more likely to be tried as an adult, especially if there is a pattern of escalating offenses.<\/li>\r\n<li><b>Transfer hearings<\/b>:\u00a0In some cases, there are transfer or waiver hearings where a judge assesses whether a juvenile should be tried in juvenile court or transferred to adult court based on the circumstances of the case.<\/li>\r\n<li><b>Public safety concerns<\/b>:\u00a0If the court believes that trying a juvenile as an adult is necessary for public safety, this may influence the decision.<\/li>\r\n<li><b>Sophistication and planning<\/b>:\u00a0Crimes that involve a high degree of planning or sophistication may increase the likelihood of a juvenile being tried as an adult.<\/li>\r\n<li><b>Victim&#8217;s age or vulnerability<\/b>:\u00a0If the victim is particularly vulnerable or young, this might impact the decision to try the juvenile as an adult.<\/li>\r\n<li><b>Prosecutorial discretion<\/b>:\u00a0Prosecutors may have discretion in deciding whether to file charges in juvenile or adult court based on the circumstances of the case.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/criminal-law\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Consult an attorne<\/a>y for more information regarding the specific laws and regulations in your jurisdiction, as these can vary significantly.<\/p>\r\n<h2>Status Offenses<\/h2>\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/juvenile-justice\/juveniles-and-age-status-offenses.html\">Status offenses<\/a>\u00a0refer to behaviors considered offenses only when committed by juveniles. Unlike criminal offenses that would be crimes regardless of the perpetrator&#8217;s age, status offenses are specific to the juvenile population. These offenses are primarily related to actions or conditions that are problematic for young individuals but not criminal for adults. Common examples include:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Truancy<\/li>\r\n<li>Curfew violations<\/li>\r\n<li>Running away from home<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2>Hiring a Criminal Defense Attorney for Delinquency Cases<\/h2>\r\n<p>Is your child suspected of a delinquent act or facing criminal charges? Work with a juvenile law attorney who is knowledgeable about the juvenile detention facility and juvenile court judges. This is the best way to ensure fair treatment for your child in juvenile court. Avoid a delinquency adjudication. Contact a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/criminal-law\/?fli=dcta\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">juvenile defense lawyer<\/a>\u00a0who knows the court system today.<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"was-this-helpful\">\n    <div\n            class=\"was-this-helpful__question-container\"\n            aria-labelledby=\"was-this-helpful__question\"\n            role=\"group\"\n    >\n        <span\n                id=\"was-this-helpful__question\"\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__question fl-text-lg-bold\"\n        >Was this helpful?<\/span>\n        <button\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__button fl-text-sm\"\n                aria-label=\"Yes\"\n                value=\"yes\"\n        >\n            <span class=\"was-this-helpful__button-text fl-text-bold\">Yes<\/span>\n            <i class=\"was-this-helpful__button-icon\">\n                <svg width=\"22\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 22 22\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n           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