Juvenile Offenses

Juvenile Offense Lawyer in Los Angeles and Ventura County

The Law Offices of Monique Shana Hill has experience in handling Juvenile Delinquency and Juvenile Dependency Cases in the State of California. If you or a loved one has been charged in the State of California with a Juvenile Crime, we can help.

Juvenile court is a different animal than State Criminal Court. There is no actual adjudication of "Guilt or Innocence." The evidence and standards are different. Quite frankly, the goal of the system is to allow the County Probation Department to be given jurisdiction to exercise some control over your child. The County believes it is "doing good" by getting involved. Once in the system, it is very difficult to get out. That is why it is so important to mount an aggressive defense in the first instance.

The goal of the Juvenile Justice System is to give the Police Department and Probation Officials as well as the District Attorney wider discretion over the treatment of juvenile offenders. At the time of arrest, the police have the option of releasing the juvenile to his or her parents or taking the alleged offender to Juvenile Hall.

The California Juvenile Court system handles all matters associated with juvenile law. There are two types of cases in California. The first type of case is called Juvenile Delinquency cases, and the second type of case is called Juvenile Dependency cases. Juvenile Delinquency cases are charges of a criminal law violation by a "minor" (defined as a person under the age of 18). Dependency cases involve allegations of child abuse or neglect against the parents or guardian of a minor.

The goal of the California Juvenile Justice System is for treatment and rehabilitation of juvenile offenders. The State of California has a wide range of methods and programs for addressing Juvenile Crime, generally taking into account the severity of the offense and the background of the offender. If charged with a Juvenile Crime, the offender can be given Fines, be assigned to Treatment Programs, Sentenced to Detention, Incarceration and/or Community Supervision. Generally, the system provides for escalating responses to offenses of increasing severity, such as Informal Probation, Formal Probation, Detention or Incarceration. Additionally, because the system has a goal of rehabilitation, many more agencies have a role to play in California's Juvenile Justice System that in the adult system, including schools, social service agencies, and community-based organizations.

In addition to delinquency proceedings, we can assist you with related school hearings as well. If you would like more information regarding Juvenile Crime Cases, contact us.