Our juvenile crime lawyer in El Cajon, CA, has the relevant knowledge and expertise to fight the accusations that are damaging the child’s future. The professionals will keep the matter out of the court to reduce the consequences. Juvenile dependency and juvenile delinquency are the two categories the California Law distinguishes crimes that a minor commits.
What is juvenile dependency and juvenile delinquency in El Cajon, CA?
If the case involves juvenile delinquency, it means the court is convicting a minor of a crime. The law defines a minor as someone who is less than 18 years old. You can hire our juvenile crime lawyer in El Cajon, CA, to represent your child in different California courts.
On the other hand, matters involving juvenile dependency involve a minor. In other words, the guardian or parent neglected the child for their basic needs. Also, juvenile dependency involves child abuse as well. Here, the law also defines a minor as someone less than 18 years of age.
Moreover, a juvenile traffic court will supervise matters related to the prosecution charging minors with owning drugs, alcohol, and other intoxicants. If you wish for your child to maintain a clean slate, hire our juvenile crime lawyer in El Cajon, CA, to handle the circumstances expertly.
How does a juvenile court proceed in El Cajon, CA?
The following rights apply to your child, whether the proceedings deal with family, juvenile crimes, or dependency. Your juvenile crime lawyer in El Cajon, CA, will inform you of the following:
- Firstly, your child has a right to a lawyer to represent them.
- Secondly, the child has a right to witnesses that their lawyer will introduce on the client’s behalf.
- The lawyer can question or cross-examine witnesses as a representative of the child.
- The minor client has a right to a public hearing.
- Furthermore, the child’s lawyer has the right to present evidence.
- Lastly, the child has the right to appeal to the decision the court presents
When will the juvenile court charge the minors as adults?
Discretion of the agencies
It is up to the police, probation officers, and the District Attorney to decide how they handle a minor offender. After the agencies arrest a minor, the police decide to transport the accused to the juvenile hall. On the other hand, they can release the child to the parents.
Felony crimes
The legislators recently amended the Juvenile Law of Proposition 21, which allows the agencies to transfer underage offenders from juvenile court to adult court. As a result, the prosecution will try them as a sane, grown adult member of society. If the circumstances involve murder or felony crimes, an 11-year-old is put on trial as an adult. However, a judge will decide the appropriate course of action. Therefore, you need a juvenile crime lawyer in El Cajon, CA, so the case remains in underage court.
Similar to an adult, the juvenile also has constitutional rights that the arresting officer must read aloud. Foremost, the minor must hear the Miranda rights. In addition, they must not make statements or question the authority if their juvenile crime lawyer in El Cajon, CA, is not present. Furthermore, the minors have the right to a parental presence before the agencies question the arrested. Unfortunately, the police do not let the minors know of their rights. Therefore, it is best to have a lawyer on retainer who will arrive as soon as the police arrest the juvenile.
Who can read the Miranda rights?
Teachers, counselors, and academic officials cannot read the constitutional rights of a minor. However, they may act on police instructions to read the rights.
Reasonable doubt burden
As soon as the police arrest the minor, they have a right to an attorney. The legal representative must be present throughout the juvenile hearings. In contrast to the adult court, a juvenile case does not involve a jury. Instead, the minor has a right to adjudication. In other words, the minor stands trial before a judge. However, the burden of proof is still as the adult. It means the prosecution must remove all doubts for the court to convict the minor.
Do you need a juvenile crime lawyer in El Cajon, CA, for school expulsion?
The initial hearing
The first step in school expulsion, where the client will need a juvenile crime lawyer in El Cajon, CA, is the initial hearing. It involves the minor to appear in front of the panel consisting of three teachers. Even though the meeting looks like a trial, it does not have specific rules. The panelists will present two options:
- Firstly, the student admits that they committed the crime.
- Secondly, the student fights the charges.
The juvenile crime lawyer in El Cajon, CA, can question the allegations. Furthermore, they will inquire about the events from the principal and other authority figures. The panel will present evidence that the lawyer can argue. The school board has the final say.
The school board
In the second step, the minor appears in front of the school board with a lawyer to represent them. The school will hear limited testimony. Unfortunately, the decision weighs heavily on the school district hearing. The juvenile crime lawyer in El Cajon, CA, will submit as many testimonies as possible. In addition, they have a closing paragraph. The school board has a day to decide.
Right to Appeal
If the family, parents, or children are not happy with the final decision, they can appeal to the county board. The juvenile crime lawyer in El Cajon, CA, will guide the child through the traumatic hearings.
Contact our juvenile crime lawyer in El Cajon, CA,
If the police have arrested your child or you are facing expulsion outcomes, you must have the expertise of a juvenile crime lawyer in El Cajon, CA. Therefore, consult with our lawyer to build a successful defense strategy. The initial consultation is free and does not involve any obligation. Reach out via a call or email.