Juvenile Defense
When a minor is charged, the rules are different: how juvenile court works, a child’s rights during arrest and questioning, when a case gets moved to adult court, dispositions and probation, status offenses, and a parent’s role. Procedures vary by state.
All Juvenile Defense guides
- Juveniles and Police Interrogation Rights
Kids have the same Miranda rights as adults, but courts weigh age when deciding if a juvenile was "in custody" and confessions can be unreliable.
- Juvenile Sex Offenses and Registration
Juvenile sex offense cases end in "adjudication," not conviction, but registration rules vary by state. Here's what to know and how to petition for removal.
- Juvenile Sentencing and Dispositions
How juvenile court "dispositions" work: probation, placement, commitment, restitution, age-out limits, and blended sentencing. Rules vary by state.
- Diversion and Teen Court in Juvenile Cases
How informal adjustment, diversion agreements, and teen court can keep a juvenile case off a record - and what to do to qualify.
- Can a Juvenile Get Life Without Parole?
Can a juvenile get life without parole? Supreme Court rules explained: Roper, Graham, Miller, Montgomery, and Jones v. Mississippi.
- Juvenile Detention and the Intake Process
What juvenile intake means, the detention-hearing deadline, diversion vs. filing a petition, and release to parents — explained plainly.
- A Parent's Role and Responsibility in a Juvenile Case
What parents must do in a juvenile case—attend hearings, cover fees/restitution, cooperate with probation—and where their role ends. Rules vary by state.
- Your Child's Rights in Juvenile Court
Juvenile court isn't informal in the ways that matter: your child has the right to notice, a lawyer, silence, and proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
- School Discipline and the School-to-Prison Pipeline
School discipline can turn into a police or court matter fast. Know SRO rules, due process (Goss v. Lopez), IEP protections, and steps to keep it out of court.
- When Juveniles Are Tried as Adults
How courts move a minor's case into adult criminal court, the three main paths, and how a defense lawyer can fight the transfer.
- How Juvenile Court Is Different From Adult Court
Juvenile court runs on different rules than adult criminal court: different words, closed hearings, usually no jury, and a rehabilitation focus.
- What Happens When a Juvenile Is Arrested
What happens in the first 24-72 hours after a juvenile is arrested: custody, parent notice, questioning, intake, and detention vs. release.
- Status Offenses: Truancy, Curfew, and Running Away
Truancy, curfew violations, and running away are only illegal because of age. Here's how status offense cases work and how they can escalate.
- Juvenile Probation Explained
A plain-English guide to juvenile probation: typical terms, supervision, school/curfew/treatment rules, violations, and how successful completion affects a record.