Charged with a Juvenile Crime in Union New Jersey
Has your child been taken into custody and charged with a juvenile offense? No parent wants to see their child become involved in the juvenile justice system. When charges are filed, however, action should be taken as quickly as possible. It can be a serious mistake to assume that a child will not suffer harsh consequences for a crime because of the fact he or she is under the age of 18. There is a lot that distinguishes the handling of juvenile cases from the way adult charges are handled. However, that does not mean a child will escape negative consequences if found guilty by a juvenile judge. It is required that a child have legal counsel, and the skill of the defense lawyer can have a tremendous impact on the final outcome of a case.
You need an experienced juvenile attorney to ensure the best possible outcome for your son or daughter when their case is heard in Elizabeth. Our attorneys at the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall have more than a century of combined experience handling criminal charges, including at the Family Part of the Union County Superior Court, where juvenile cases that occur in Union Township and throughout Union County are heard. The team of lawyers on our staff are ready to provide aggressive and compassionate representation of your juvenile son or daughter. You can reach a lawyer at the firm 24/7 at 908-272-1700 for a free initial consultation.
Juvenile Criminal Offense in Union Township
There are differences between the constitutional protections of adults who are charged with a crime as compared with juveniles. The protections shared by all ages, according to New Jersey statute, include the following:
- The presumption of innocence;
- The right to testify;
- The right to confront witnesses;
- The right not to testify; and
- Charges must be proved by the State beyond a reasonable doubt.
A few differences are that juveniles do not have a right to have charges against them screened by members of a grand jury. Juveniles have no right to a jury trial, either. All juvenile charges are heard and decided by a judge. In addition, when a judge decides that a juvenile will be placed in detention while awaiting trial, there is no right to release on bail.
Our lawyers defend all Union Township juvenile criminal offenses including:
- Aggravated assault
- Possession of MDMA, Cocaine, Heroin
- Burglary
- Possession of a Weapon including a handgun
- Distribution of CDS
- Terroristic threats
- Eluding
- Robbery
- Sexual assault
- Simple assault
- Marijuana Possession & Distribution
The following are some comparisons of maximum incarceration periods for juveniles as compared with adults:
- For purposeful or knowing murder, an adult can receive life imprisonment and a juvenile can get 20 years maximum.
- For felony murder, an adult can get life and a juvenile can serve up to 10 years in detention.
Other crimes of the first degree, which trigger up to 20 years in prison for an adult, can result in up to four years of juvenile detention for someone under 18 years old.
For a second degree crime an adults can be sentenced to up to 10 years behind bars whereas a second degree aggravated assault, drug distribution or other second degree crime carries up to 3 years detention for a juvenile.
A third degree crime can result in up to 5 years of incarceration for an adult whereas a juvenile third degree crime for possession of heroin or cocaine or some other violation in this grade carries up to 2 years juvenile detention.
A f0urth degree crime triggers a period of incarceration of up to 18 months. In contrast, the period of detention is limited to one year for a juvenile convicted of a third degree crime.
For a disorderly persons offense, an adult can serve 6 months in the county jail and a juvenile can be sentenced to the same maximum term.
On a petty disorderly persons offense, an adult may be incarcerated for up to 30 day. On a first adjudication, a juvenile serves no time in a detention center but can be sentenced to up to 30 days for subsequent adjudications.
Union Juvenile Attorney
If your child has been charged with a juvenile offense in Union New Jersey, hiring a skilled attorney is important to their protection. The team of accomplished attorneys at the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall includes several former prosecutors, who give us an added edge in knowing the best approaches to an effective defense in a juvenile case. Contact us for assistance from highly qualified lawyer to represent your child’s best interest in a juvenile case in Union Township NJ. Lawyers are available around the clock to help you at 908-272-1700.
