JUVENILE CRIMES

A juvenile charged with a crime can face severe penalties, and unfortunately a charge of this nature means negative consequences for the parents and guardians as well.

At Bradley Johnson Attorneys we understand and are sensitive to the issues a family faces when dealing with juvenile charges. Our attorneys have a highly sophisticated background in juvenile matters, and are prepared to guide you through this difficult process to the best possible outcome.

Some think that juvenile crimes mean "lesser" charges as compared to adult charges; this is an all-too-common misconception. Only in 1988 did the Supreme Court rule that juveniles under 16 could not be executed for crimes, and only as recently as 2005 did the Supreme Court rule, in a narrow 5-4 decision, to strike down the death penalty for persons under the age of 18.

Approximately 200,000 young defendants are sent through the adult system every year, usually for violent or severe crimes. If not charged as an adult juveniles are commonly sent to foster homes, reform or other institutions until they are 18, they can be put on probation or house arrest, among many other damaging results.

The Supreme Court in the past has acknowledged that, “the State has a ‘parens patriae interest in preserving and promoting the welfare of the child’ [making] a juvenile proceeding fundamentally different from an adult criminal trial.” Schall vs. Martin, 467 U.S. 253, 263 (1984). However these intentions have long ago been lost, with juvenile court acting in a similar manner to adult court, the goal being not to rehabilitate but unfortunately to punish.

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