juvenile Law
The Juvenile justice
system is a mesh of criminal and family law. Technically,
these are not criminal offenses, but are often treated the
same way. A juvenile defendant has most of the same rights
as an adult criminal defendant, but there are differences
and the case is heard in the juvenile court rather than
one of the criminal courts. Also, the government may try
to prosecute a juvenile as an adult. If they are
successful, then the case is transferred to a criminal
court and the juvenile goes through the same process and
faces the same punishment as an adult criminal defendant.Juveniles in Municipal Court
For most ‘Class C’ misdemeanors, juveniles will be charged in a municipal court (or Justice of Peace court in rural areas). These include traffic citations, minor in possession (of alcohol or tobacco), DUI (Driving Under [any] Influence - NOT DWI), etc. This process is usually very similar to the one for adults charged in municipal courts, but there are procedural differences and there may be alternatives not available to adults.
Sealing Records
Juvenile records can be sealed in most situations. However, if you are charged as an adult before your juvenile records are sealed, they may be used against you in your adult case. If you are convicted, you can lose your right to seal your juvenile records forever. Do NOT wait….Once you are an adult, you should move to seal your juvenile records as soon as you can.