According to New Jersey law, children under the age of 18 are called juveniles. Juvenile laws in NJ deal with crimes committed by people under the age of 18. According to juvenile laws in NJ, when a juvenile is accused of a crime, he has the right to remain silent and the right to have legal counsel represent him at any hearing.
Some Common Juvenile Crimes in NJ
A juvenile may be charged for any crime which an adult wouldn’t normally be charged for, but charged as a juvenile rather than as an adult. Some common juvenile crimes in NJ include:
- Underage drinking
- Fighting
- Shoplifting
- Vandalism
- Trespassing
- Drug possession and sale
- Internet crimes
- Disorderly conduct
- Sexual offenses
Courts That Have Jurisdiction over Juvenile Crimes
Most of the juvenile crimes in NJ are handled by a juvenile court system. The juvenile courts have strict rules for releasing the juvenile to his or her parents. However, the juvenile courts focus on rehabilitation and education rather than punishment. If a juvenile commits a violent criminal offense, his or her case may be handled in an adult court.
If a juvenile commits an offense which would have been charged as a crime if he were an adult, the case is then considered to be a juvenile delinquency case. A Family Court in NJ has jurisdiction over juvenile delinquency cases.
Juvenile Sentencing Options
Sentencing options for juveniles are classified into incarceration and non-incarceration. When a juvenile’s is determined to be a juvenile delinquency case, he may be charged with an incarceration. Incarceration penalties include home arrest, juvenile hall, probation after juvenile hall, adult jail, and more.
Non-incarceration penalties include a verbal warning, fines, counseling, community service, electronic monitoring, probation, and more.
Do Juvenile Court Records Affect Your Child’s Future?
Juvenile court records may greatly affect your child’s employment, education and other future opportunities. However, juveniles may have an option to seal or expunge their records. In New Jersey, if juvenile court records are sealed they are not open to the public.
Looking for an Experienced Juvenile Attorney in NJ? Call Us at (201)-420-1913
At the Law Offices of Joel Silberman no case is too big or too small. We handle all types of juvenile crimes in NJ. From the moment Attorney Joel Silberman is hired, he starts his work. Attorney Joel Silberman will immediately take steps to preserve critical evidence, interview potential eyewitnesses and prepare your defense. Immediately after retaining Joel Silberman you will receive a 24/7 dedicated line to contact him on.
Call 201-420-1913 for a consultation with Attorney Joel Silberman.