Juvenile Crimes

Not only are the rules and procedures employed in California juvenile courts different from adult court, but also the defense strategies in juvenile cases require special considerations unique to juvenile law. Mr. Ardalon Fakhimi is the top juvenile crimes attorney at California Criminal Defense Center.  He is highly experienced in California juvenile law and handles matters including (but not limited to) the following:

  • DUI
  • Assault and battery
  • Curfew violations
  • Drug use
  • Gang-related activities
  • Running away from home
  • Sexual misconduct
  • Shoplifting
  • Skipping school
  • Theft
  • Traffic violations
  • Truancy
  • Trespassing
  • Underage drinking
  • Vandalism

When a juvenile is accused of a crime in California, the criminal process is very different than in adult court. For example, juveniles are not entitled to a jury trial, but rather are tried before a judge. Juvenile crimes are called acts of delinquency and require juvenile court intervention to deal with the delinquency. However, under California’s Proposition 21, minors arrested for certain violent crimes may be tried as adults without having the opportunity of appearing before a juvenile judge first. This is true for minors even as young as 14.

Typically, howvever, a juvenile court judge will hear the evidence and decide whether your son or daughter is guilty or not guilty. Depending on the crime, a minor may be put in a juvenile detention center until the age of 25.

Parents should also be advised that California laws require longer jail sentences for crimes that are deemed “gang-related”. The court may impose detention in a California Youth Authority facility for even minor offenses if the offense is deemed “gang-related”. It is important to fight the “gang-related” association when charges are brought under these new laws.Because of the special rules and circumstances surrounding juvenile crimes, it is important to obtain a skilled juvenile delinquency lawyer. At California Criminal Defense Center, our focus is on the “rehabilitation” and not punishment of our client. Consequently, we strive to secure informal probation for your child. This requires the minor to follow a probation officer’s supervision-plan and maintain good behavior during the probationary period. The charges may later be dismissed after a given period of time (usually six months).

Even though the juvenile justice system is committed to rehabilitating juvenile offenders, some prosecutors, probation officers, and police may be very aggressive about prosecuting minors – as though the offenders were legal adults. If your son or daughter has been accused of committing a crime, it is important that you hire a criminal defense attorney who is experienced in defending cases in juvenile court.

IF YOUR CHILD IS CURRENTLY FACING ANY TYPE OF JUVENILE, CRIMINAL CHARGES, IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY, ORANGE COUNTY, RIVERSIDE COUNTY, SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY, SAN DIEGO, OR VENTURA COUNTY, YOU SHOULD CONTACT A HIGHLY QUALIFIED LAWYER JUVENILE LAW ATTORNEY AT CALIFORNIA CRIMINAL DEFENSE CENTER.

You may contact us toll free at 1-800-384-5464, or you may email us using the Contact Us form on this page and we will schedule your fee consultation with Attorney Ardalon Fakhimi.