When Good Kids Go Wrong.

So many families in the San Jose area are torn asunder when a juvenile is arrested for a crime.  The whole group is adversely affected when someone from the family who is under 18 is held in custody.  Perhaps I can make it a bit more comforting by giving you a brief synopsis of how juvenile courts differ from adult courts in California.

Some of the differences are –

1.  A minor in a juvenile case is not entitled to a jury trial.

2.  There are FOUR hearings in the process.

3.  Minors must be brought to court within 48 hours of their arrest.

4.  On occasion, teens who are accused of serious crimes MAY be tried in adult court.

5.  Juvenile probation differs considerably from adult probation.

DO NOT let fear of the unknown grip you or your family.  If a loved one has been accused of a juvenile crime in the State of California call me.  I am San Jose criminal defense attorney William Chestnut.  I have been defending underage kids for decades and I know all of the nuances of juvenile court.  Just give me a call at (408) 298-6990. 

At What Age Can Juveniles be Tried as Adults in California?

Good news/bad news.  The state law in California prohibits the prosecution of children who are less than 14 years old.  Perhaps disturbingly, there are some situations where someone 14 years of age or older can be tried as an adult.  There are certain crimes where your kid could be tried in adult court.  That should send shivers up your spine!

Just like an adult, kids who are as young as 14 in The Big Bear State can be charged with an infraction, a misdemeanor, or even a felony.  The minor cannot be charged with Class A felonies, for instance.  Can juvenile crimes be sealed?  That means that the offense is deemed to have never occurred at all!

You see, this is a slippery slope indeed.  The thought of having your kid’s life altered forever when he or she is still a young teenager is horrifying.  Do Not let another day pass.  Call the law office of San Jose juvenile defense attorney William Chestnut immediately.  Bill has been defending kids in court for decades.  That phone number is (408) 298-6990.

Juvenile Crime in California.

Every state has its problems with young people being arrested on suspicion of committing a felony.  California, because of its diversity and shear population, is at or near the top of the list.  The statistics reveal a great deal about the types of juvey crime in the Big Bear State.  Here are some of them.

In the most recent reporting period we found that over one-third of all arrests of young people are for violent offenses.  That is a startling stat!  Beyond that, nearly a third involved property violation.  Most of the rest were for offenses such as weapons, hit-and-run, drugs and alcohol possession, etc.

When a young person in your life runs afoul of California State Law you call in a veteran who has been defending kids in juvenile courts throughout the state for more than four decades.  That bull-dogged defense will be provided by William Chestnut.  Attorney Chestnut knows his way around California Juvenile Court.  Call his San Jose office for a consultation at (408) 298-6990.