Juveniles (minors under the age of eighteen years of age) can be prosecuted for any of the same crimes for which adults can be prosecuted.

Although the goal of the juvenile justice system is to rehabilitate youthful offenders, probation officers, police, and prosecutors are as aggressive in their prosecution of juveniles as they are of adults.

Juvenile offenders who plead or who are found guilty of crimes that qualify as Strikes under California law may find themselves in a criminal prosecution when they are 18 or 19 years old, facing a Three Strikes case and potential life in prison for two robbery counts they admitted in a juvenile case when they were only 14 years old.

Under a new California law, minors who are charged with certain violent crimes can be tried as adults without a hearing before a juvenile judge.

Some important differences do exist between the adult and juvenile justice systems. First, except in rare cases, minors are not entitled to a jury trial under juvenile law.

That means a judge, good or bad, will hear the evidence and render a verdict. It is crucial that your lawyer have experience litigating cases before juvenile judges, so that a particular juvenile judge can be challenged if your lawyer feels that he may rule against the minor in a biased manner.

Your lawyer will need to know juvenile law thoroughly to competently represent the minor. Second, a minor can eligible for informal probation which means that if he complies with a probation officer's plan of supervision, the charges will be dismissed after the probationary period.

Most parents are completely unaware that they can be held liable for monetary losses caused by crimes committed by their sons or daughters under California law.

These are just a few of the reasons you will need to hire a skillful and experienced lawyer knowledgeable in juvenile law to defend your son or daughter.

Your freedom and record are too important to entrust to an inexperienced attorney. I am one of San Diego's most experienced criminal defense attorneys.

With over 20 years of experience, devoted exclusively to the practice of criminal law; I (Stephen Brodsky, Attorney at Law) have successfully defended hundreds of people in all areas of criminal law.

IF YOUR SON, DAUGHTER OR RELATIVE IS CHARGED WITH A JUVENILE CRIME, CONTACT MY OFFICE FOR A FREE CONSULTATION ON HOW TO PREPARE A SUCCESSFUL DEFENSE IN JUVENILE COURT.