A Lawyer for Children and Teenagers in Trouble
If your child or you have been arrested for an underage offense, you are likely dealing with unfamiliar legal territory where what seem like criminal charges are made under the heading of "juvenile delinquency" in the unusual context of juvenile court.
I am here to help young people through this system and seek a result that is focused on what is best for the juvenile. Contact me to schedule a free initial consultation about your case.
Experienced Understanding of New Jersey's Juvenile System
The juvenile justice system and the charge of juvenile delinquency are calibrated to respond to the specific issues that arise when a minor is involved in legal trouble. There are unique procedures, as well as unique rules governing the conduct of lawyers.
As a lawyer in a juvenile delinquency case, I represent the child, and my legal responsibility is to the child alone, even if the child's parents pay my fee. That includes the duty of confidentiality and the duty to take only those steps that are authorized by the child, as long as the steps are not contrary to the child’s best interests.
Obviously, when dealing with minors, the attorney/client relationship takes on a different character. When I started working as a public defender, I was assigned all of the juvenile cases for the Atlantic County Region. Since starting my own firm, I have maintained a significant juvenile practice and I am skilled at working with young people in these cases.
Contact me in Ocean City for help navigating the juvenile justice system.
Avoiding Prosecution as an Adult
While juvenile delinquency cases are generally dealt with in a juvenile court environment focused on the interests of the child, serious cases can end up in the law division, where adult criminal cases are prosecuted.
If the prosecutor is seeking adult charges against a child, there will be a waiver hearing in juvenile court to determine whether the transfer will take place.
My experience as a New Jersey Supreme Court-designated Certified Criminal Trial Attorney is crucial in a situation like this. I will argue vigorously that your juvenile delinquency case should remain in juvenile court.
