While no parent ever wants to face the reality of having a child that has committed a crime, it is something that happens from time to time. If you are a parent, it would be a good idea to take the time to learn a little more about the criminal process for a minor. You should take the time to consult with one of the local expert criminal lawyers to better understand how the criminal system works for minors where you live.
Most parents are pleased to learn that there is a criminal justice system in place specifically for minors. This system is the juvenile court system. It is important to keep in mind that not every minor qualifies for juvenile court system. As a parent, you should take the time to consult with a Criminal Attorney in Orange County that has experience with criminal offenders that have not reached the age of maturity, so you can learn more about what qualifies for juvenile court.
If you have a child under the age of seven that commits a crime, legally they cannot be tried in any criminal system. Depending on what kind of crime they committed, their parents would be liable for the fines associated with the crime. Prime candidates for the juvenile court system are children who are between the ages of seven and fifteen. Unfortunately, a child as young as twelve can be tried as an adult in the criminal court system depending on the crime that was committed. Any Criminal Attorney in Orange County is going to tell you that your child would have had to commit a serious crime such as rape, murder, abuse, or molestation in order to be considered for criminal court instead of juvenile court.
What happens when a minor gets arrested is very different than what happens to an adult. The police officer will decide if they want to send the minor to the juvenile system or if they want to give them a warning and send them home to their parents. What the police officer decides usually depends on what the child did as well as whether or not the child as a record.
