New California Law Modifies California’s Juvenile Court Jurisdiction In September 2018, Governor Jerry Brown signed California Senate Bill 439 into law. The act amends Sections 601 and adds Section 602.1 to California’s Welfare and Institutions Code as these sections relate to juveniles. Under the former law, juvenile courts had jurisdiction over cases involving a “minor” (persons […]
Proposition 21 – When a Child Can Be Tried as an Adult in the State of California In the State of California, Proposition 21 gives court judges the authority to determine whether a juvenile, of at least sixteen years of age, will be tried as an adult or as a juvenile. A juvenile between the ages […]
Do Juvenile Criminal Defendants Have the Same Constitutional Rights as Adults? Before the 1960s, juvenile criminal defendants had almost no rights when it came to due process and the law. In recent decades, courts have increased the rights juveniles’ have when accused of a crime. While minors whose cases are handled in juvenile court are […]
Minors Who Get into Fights Can Be Charged with Assault and Battery Many adults have memories of fighting with siblings or friends as a child or teenager. However, when schoolyard wrestling escalates into an injury-causing physical altercation, the consequences can be severe. California law considers anyone under the age of 18 a minor, but minors […]
My Child Was Caught Drinking and Driving, Now What? Anyone with a teenaged child knows that teens do not always make the best decisions. Even well-intentioned children can get mixed up with the wrong crowd and take dangerous risks. If you have a teenaged child who has been accused of driving under the influence, you […]
What Is the Difference Between Expungement and Sealing a Juvenile Criminal Record? You have probably heard the legal terms “expungement” and “record sealing” before, but may not know exactly what these terms mean. Expungement means that an individual’s criminal record is cleared completely of a certain crime or arrest. In other words, expungement clears a […]
Risk Factors Associated with Juvenile Crime Any good parent is interested in knowing where their child is and what they might be up to at any given time. As a child grows up, it becomes impossible—and arguably unhealthy—to keep a constant eye on him or her. Parents must do what they can to raise their […]
Juvenile Charges of Vandalism San Jose Juvenile Lawyer And Santa Clara Juvenile Charges Of Vandalism Attorney Bending the rules is almost a rite of passage for teenagers. Young people are notorious for pushing boundaries and seeing what they can get away with. A reasonable amount of this behavior is nothing to be concerned about, however […]
Governor Signs Series of Juvenile Crime Bills into Law Despite objections from some prosecutors and law enforcement organizations, California Governor Jerry Brown signed a package of legislative measures earlier this month that will have an effect on the criminal justice system for both adults and juveniles in the states. In total, Governor Brown signed nine […]
Study Looks at Decrease in Crime and Increase in Immigration In the late 1970s and early 1980s, there was nationwide concern over the state of crime in this country. The United States was in the middle of its “War on Drugs,” juvenile delinquency was a serious problem, and certain cities become synonymous with violent criminal […]