Houston Juvenile Crime Lawyer

Juvenile law, as the name suggests, deals with crimes committed by children. The maximum age for a juvenile offender varies from state to state, but the generally accepted maximum age is seventeen. The federal law considers a person under the age of eighteen as a juvenile. In Texas, a child is defined as a person who is between the ages of 10 and 17. Juveniles under the age of 18 can be charged with a number of different misdemeanor or felony offenses in the state of Texas. In some cases, the child may be certified as an adult under Texas law.

When the child is arrested, the juvenile probation department will conduct what is known as an “intake”. The purpose of this intake process is to determine if the offender meets the definition of a child and to ascertain if there is probable cause to believe that the child committed the offense. During intake, it will also be decided whether the child needs to be detained prior to trial. If the child is detained, two hearings will quickly be held in juvenile court throughout the greater Houston area including in Harris County, Texas.

The juvenile offender will usually face a two-part trial. The first phase is called the adjudication phase and during this phase, a jury will determine whether the child committed the offense or not. In order to find the juvenile guilty, the decision must be unanimous. The child can decide to skip the adjudication phase of trial which is the equivalent to pleading guilty. In that case, the trial will progress directly to disposition.

Nothing can be more frightening than having your child charged with a juvenile crime. The crimes range from traffic violations to alcohol consumption to armed robbery to grave felonies like sexual assault and murder. Criminal convictions, even of a minor offense, can psychologically mar your child for years—affecting their education and career opportunities.

The first reaction of most parents when told of their child’s juvenile crime is to panic. But remember that your child needs your strong support now, as much as at any other time in his or her life. Panicking will not help you nor remedy the situation. It is imperative that you remain cool-headed and seek immediate legal counsel from an experienced juvenile defense attorney to safeguard the child’s rights and future.

There are also parents of children - who are arrested for relatively minor offenses, such as vandalism or shoplifting - remaining nonchalant, letting the justice system teach the child a lesson. Of course, disciplining the child is important but a child who is under arrest faces a legal process that is going to be far more intimidating than any they would have encountered at school or at home.

You should seek the assistance of an experienced juvenile defense lawyer who is fully conversant with the juvenile system in Texas and can develop an effective defense strategy to protect your child. A good Houston juvenile crime lawyer can do much more than represent your child before the judge. An experienced and knowledgeable juvenile defense attorney can clear all your misgivings and provide the answers you need. In fact, he can guide the entire family through the system, check various options, and offer moral support.

It is critically important that you never allow your child to speak to any law enforcement officer until after you have contacted an attorney. Your child can certainly invoke his or her right to remain silent and can refuse to speak about the crime until the attorney’s advice is obtained. Do not let State agents like CPS bully you or your child into talking without your first consulting with an attorney!

If you wish to hire a lawyer with topnotch experience and proven results, you can contact Houston federal criminal defense lawyer Neal Davis for a free initial consultation. You can e-mail him or call him at 713-227-4444 any time, and also visit: houstoncriminalattorney.com