When a juvenile is accused of a crime, the criminal process is very different than in adult court. The juvenile crime is called an act of delinquency and may be referred to juvenile court to attempt to correct the delinquency. The following types of behavior may subject juveniles to juvenile court jurisdiction in California:

California juvenile courts have their own special rules and procedures. Juvenile rights in court are different than adult rights. For example, juveniles do not have the right to bail or a jury trial.

If a child has been taken into custody, he or she is entitled to a detention hearing. At this hearing, a judge will determine whether the child should continue to be detained or released to the custody of the juvenile's family. Judges use the following criteria when making this determination:

• Whether it is reasonably necessary for the protection of the person or property of another that the child be detained 
• Whether the matter is of immediate and urgent necessity for the protection of the child that he or she be detained 
• Whether the child is a flight risk 
• Whether the child has violated previous court orders

Notwithstanding these differences, juveniles are entitled to receive full notice of all charges against them, the right to a fair hearing, and the right to confront witnesses. Not only are the rules and procedures different from adult court, but defense strategies in these cases require special considerations that are unique to juvenile law, including the options available at sentencing.

Depending on the offense, punishments may vary from probation to incarceration in a juvenile hall or in a California Youth Authority detention facility. Orange County, California juvenile offenses lawyer Danielle Augustin understands juvenile law and ensures that the rights of her juvenile clients are fully protected in court. She advises clients in areas ranging from truancy violations to violent felony-level offenses that end up in adult court, and handles all issues involving:

• Adjudication Hearings 
• Disposition Hearings 
• Detention Hearings
• Arraignments 
• Pretrials 
• Court and Jury Trials 
• Sentencing 
• Probation
• Juvenile Programs
• Revocation / Denial Of Driver's License

Contact us on-line or call (714) 282-1242

Augustin Egelsee helps families throughout Southern California, including the counties of Orange, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and San Diego as well as Northern California, including San Luis Obispo, San Francisco and Sacramento.

AugustinEgelsee L.L.P.
8141 Kaiser Boulevard, Suite 315
Anaheim Hills, CA 92808
Telephone: 714-282-1242
Facsimile: 714-282-1231