Understanding Butler Juvenile Defense Charges

A juvenile, someone under the age of 18, generally faces a very different system than an adult does when they are accused of breaking the law. The juvenile justice system is focused on rehabilitation, but that does not mean that there are no serious consequences. In some instances, a young person can even be charged as an adult for a serious offense.

Understanding Butler juvenile defense charges is important if your child has been accused of wrongdoing. They have rights, but asserting them could be challenging without help. Let our dedicated youth defense attorneys assist you during this difficult time.

Charges Juveniles Face

While the juvenile justice system is unique, people under the age of 18 can be accused of the same criminal offenses as adults. Many of the same charges that are seen in adult court are common in juvenile proceedings, including the following:

The major difference between these two systems is that juveniles do not face the same risk of incarceration as adults. The judge has significant discretion in these cases, but their focus should be on rehabilitating the child when possible. While juvenile detention is an option in serious cases, judges typically hand down community service, counseling, or other consequences that aim to assist the juvenile.

Depending on the charge, our juvenile defense lawyer who understands the law in Butler could argue that the child’s needs, their prior history, and the nature of the offense should result in an outcome that is not overly harsh or unreasonable.

Detained Juveniles’ Rights

There is the possibility that a juvenile could be held in detention after they are adjudicated delinquent. In some cases, they can even be held prior to trial. When this happens, they have certain rights related to their education and care.

If a juvenile is held while awaiting trial, they are entitled to a free public education. For youth with special medical or educational needs, the state is required to make accommodations to ensure they are able to continue their education. Our Butler defense lawyer can help you better understand your child’s rights when they are facing juvenile delinquency charges.

Juveniles Can Be Charged as Adults

While most young offenders go through the juvenile system, there are times when a person under the age of 18 may instead face adult criminal charges. In these cases, they are tried in the traditional court system and, if convicted, could be sentenced to serve time in an adult facility.

This escalation is reserved for particularly serious allegations. A juvenile might be charged as an adult immediately following arrest, or the case could start in juvenile court and later be transferred. Whether a case remains in juvenile court or moves to adult court depends on several key factors, including:

  • The severity of the offense, especially if it involves violent crimes such as homicide
  • Whether a weapon was used during the alleged incident
  • The juvenile’s prior record, including any history of adjudications
  • The likelihood that the juvenile could benefit from rehabilitation
  • The age of the juvenile, particularly if they are close to turning 18 or are already 18 by the time the case goes to trial

These are complex decisions that require careful legal strategy. Our Butler defense attorneys understand how to advocate for your child and fight to keep their case in the juvenile system whenever possible.

Contact Our Butler Attorney for Help Understanding Juvenile Defense Charges

If your child has been arrested, understanding Butler juvenile defense charges is vital. Another important step is seeking out the support of seasoned legal counsel. Our team of attorneys could work with your family to give you the best chance at a reasonable outcome.

The system is designed to rehabilitate a child, but that does not mean the result cannot be damaging. Reach out to learn how our team could help during this difficult time. All of our lawyers are former prosecutors and, therefore, are uniquely qualified and well-equipped to defend criminal cases.

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Butler

A juvenile, someone under the age of 18, generally faces a very different system than an adult does when they are accused of breaking the law. The juvenile justice system is focused on rehabilitation, but that does not mean that there are no serious consequences. In some instances, a young person can even be charged as an adult for a serious offense.

Understanding Butler juvenile defense charges is important if your child has been accused of wrongdoing. They have rights, but asserting them could be challenging without help. Let our dedicated youth defense attorneys assist you during this difficult time.

Charges Juveniles Face

While the juvenile justice system is unique, people under the age of 18 can be accused of the same criminal offenses as adults. Many of the same charges that are seen in adult court are common in juvenile proceedings, including the following:

The major difference between these two systems is that juveniles do not face the same risk of incarceration as adults. The judge has significant discretion in these cases, but their focus should be on rehabilitating the child when possible. While juvenile detention is an option in serious cases, judges typically hand down community service, counseling, or other consequences that aim to assist the juvenile.

Depending on the charge, our juvenile defense lawyer who understands the law in Butler could argue that the child’s needs, their prior history, and the nature of the offense should result in an outcome that is not overly harsh or unreasonable.

Detained Juveniles’ Rights

There is the possibility that a juvenile could be held in detention after they are adjudicated delinquent. In some cases, they can even be held prior to trial. When this happens, they have certain rights related to their education and care.

If a juvenile is held while awaiting trial, they are entitled to a free public education. For youth with special medical or educational needs, the state is required to make accommodations to ensure they are able to continue their education. Our Butler defense lawyer can help you better understand your child’s rights when they are facing juvenile delinquency charges.

Juveniles Can Be Charged as Adults

While most young offenders go through the juvenile system, there are times when a person under the age of 18 may instead face adult criminal charges. In these cases, they are tried in the traditional court system and, if convicted, could be sentenced to serve time in an adult facility.

This escalation is reserved for particularly serious allegations. A juvenile might be charged as an adult immediately following arrest, or the case could start in juvenile court and later be transferred. Whether a case remains in juvenile court or moves to adult court depends on several key factors, including:

  • The severity of the offense, especially if it involves violent crimes such as homicide
  • Whether a weapon was used during the alleged incident
  • The juvenile’s prior record, including any history of adjudications
  • The likelihood that the juvenile could benefit from rehabilitation
  • The age of the juvenile, particularly if they are close to turning 18 or are already 18 by the time the case goes to trial

These are complex decisions that require careful legal strategy. Our Butler defense attorneys understand how to advocate for your child and fight to keep their case in the juvenile system whenever possible.

Contact Our Butler Attorney for Help Understanding Juvenile Defense Charges

If your child has been arrested, understanding Butler juvenile defense charges is vital. Another important step is seeking out the support of seasoned legal counsel. Our team of attorneys could work with your family to give you the best chance at a reasonable outcome.

The system is designed to rehabilitate a child, but that does not mean the result cannot be damaging. Reach out to learn how our team could help during this difficult time. All of our lawyers are former prosecutors and, therefore, are uniquely qualified and well-equipped to defend criminal cases.

Benjamin Levine Law, LLC


20397 Rte 19
#300

Cranberry Twp PA  16066

Phone : (412) 432-6911