NYC Juvenile Defense Lawyers

As a parent, it’s very distressing knowing that your minor is charged with a crime. Since laws and punishments that may affect an accused juvenile differ significantly from the laws that prosecute adults, you will need the help of a professional and passionate juvenile defense lawyer. To make matters worse, all criminal attorneys aren’t well versed in criminal defense for juveniles.

In New York, children are prosecuted differently compared to adults. In case your kid has been accused of a crime in Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Staten Island or the Bronx, you need to know the juvenile justice system’s complexities. You require a juvenile crime attorney from a reputable company like Federal Lawyers to outline all the complexities and help you win the case.

New York juvenile crimes

Any illegal act committed by an individual aged 7 to 15 results in the young adult declared a juvenile felonious if they are found responsible for committing a crime. Such an individual requires supervision, confinement and/or treatment.

Juvenile delinquency cases in New York are held in family courts and not in criminal courts. Law violation is also known as a delinquent act, not a crime, irrespective of what the young one is accused of. This can be shoplifting, violating drug laws, committing an assault offense or any other unlawful activities.

When a teenager between the ages of 13-15 commits a violent and/or serious offense, the case can be held in a supreme court, rather than a family court. In case the teenager is convicted, he or she isn’t considered a juvenile delinquent but a juvenile offender. At 16, a teen is not a juvenile and will be tried as an adult.

How juvenile cases are prosecuted in New York

Since being accused of committing a crime is traumatic, your child requires a knowledgeable and experienced juvenile defense lawyer. This is because many minor mistakes can cause life-altering consequences for your young one, and this is not what you want. You need a representative who can work with the prosecutor and police to handle the case.

Common crimes minors are often involved in include:

• Robbery

• criminal mischief

• Possession of marijuana, alcohol, or other controlled substances

• Burglary

• Possession of illegal weapons

• Sex crimes like sexual assault or rape on a younger child

DEFENSE TEAM SPOTLIGHT

Todd Spodek

Lead Attorney & Founder

Featured on Netflix's "Inventing Anna," Todd Spodek brings decades of high-stakes criminal defense experience. His aggressive approach has secured dismissals and acquittals in cases others deemed unwinnable.

NY Bar Admitted Multi-State Licensed Federal Courts

Meet the Full Team

Once your child is arrested, several juvenile justice processes happen. Each case varies but with the help of a lawyer, you will get all the guidance you and your child require.

When a child is arrested, the judge or police will determine if your child can be released to you or not.

Legal Scenario: What Would You Do?

Scenario

Your 15-year-old was arrested after a physical altercation at school in Manhattan, and the police are saying he could be charged with assault in the second degree. You received a call from the precinct telling you to come pick him up, but an officer mentioned something about your son's case possibly being sent to Family Court or even criminal court.

Can my teenager actually be tried as an adult for a school fight, and what should I do right now to protect his future?

Attorney's Answer

Under New York's Raise the Age law, most 15-year-olds charged with misdemeanors will have their cases handled in Family Court, where the focus is on rehabilitation rather than punishment. However, if the charge is a felony like assault in the second degree under NY Penal Law § 120.05, the case may initially land in Youth Part of Superior Court before potentially being transferred down to Family Court depending on the circumstances. It is critical that you do not allow your child to make any statements to police without an attorney present, as anything he says now could be used against him regardless of which court hears the case. Contact a juvenile defense lawyer immediately — early intervention can mean the difference between a youthful offender adjudication that stays sealed and a criminal record that follows your child into adulthood.

This is general information only. Contact us for advice specific to your situation.

• If your child is released by the police to you, the release is accompanied by an appearance ticket. The child and/or the parent may be asked to appear in court for the case.

• The court schedules a hearing date allowing the defense counsel to collect facts and evidence. Once this task is completed, the defense attorney negotiates with the prosecution to reach a mutual agreeable solution.

• If no agreement is attained, a decision has to be made by the juvenile judge. Unless the case is serious, your child appears before a regular court and is tried as an adult – no juries are allowed. It is the responsibility of the juvenile lawyer to review the case and make a final ruling.

Never trust your child’s future to anyone. Contact us at Federal Lawyers and get an attorney to help protect your child’s future. We can handle juvenile cases efficiently and effectively, making the juvenile justice process smooth.