Juvenile Defense (Felony and Misdemeanor)
The juvenile justice system deals with children who commit crimes or other status violations. Status violations are violations only because these actions are committed by individuals below a certain age. For example, skipping school is only a violation if the individual is under eighteen. While there are exceptions to the general rule a violator age seventeen and under will usually be processed by the juvenile system. In contrast to the adult system, which is focused almost exclusively on punishment, the juvenile system is supposed to be focused on mandating the course of action that is in the best interests of the child. Nevertheless, juveniles have the same rights as adults accused of crimes. Therefore, to increase the chances of positive results, juveniles and parents should also review our excerpt entitled A Criminal Defendant's Rights.

Like the adult system, the first phase of a juvenile proceeding is determining whether or not the child committed the offense accused of. If the court finds that the child actually committed the offense, the court is also likely to find that the child is in need of supervision. The court then has numerous punishment options. The most highly sought after option is in-home probation. The terms of probation are set by the court and typically stipulate that the child must not violate the law, use or possess intoxicating substances (drugs or alcohol) nor be where those substances are sold, abide by a curfew, and not leave the county without parent, guardian, or court permission. The child must also submit to random drug testing and regularly visit a probation officer.

If the court finds that in-home probation is inappropriate, probation outside of the home may be imposed. Some of the same conditions from above are also applicable but the child is also removed from the home and placed into a "boot camp" or some other program. Upon successful completion of the assigned program the child is generally returned home.

The most severe juvenile punishment is commitment to the Texas Youth Commission (TYC), which is the juvenile equivalent of prison. Juveniles can be incarcerated in TYC until they reach twenty-one and if their sentence extends beyond that point they can be transferred to the adult prison system upon reaching twenty-one.

Exposing children to the criminal justice system has permanent life-changing ramifications. If you are a juvenile who has gotten into trouble or a parent of a child facing criminal charges contact us so that we can (if possible) eliminate or at least minimize you or your child's exposure to this often very harmful system. As with all other criminal matters it is best to contact us as early in the process as possible. Some things once done cannot be undone.