If your child is charged with a crime, you may want to learn more about the consequences. Read on and reach out to our firm today to speak with our skilled Richmond juvenile crimes attorney. Our legal team is committed to ensuring your child’s rights and future are protected.
What can happen when a juvenile is charged with a crime in Virginia?
In the event that a juvenile allegedly commits an offense, he or she will be put into the system through the juvenile county intake process, where the intake officer can either take formal or informal action. Informal actions refer to placing the juvenile in a crisis shelter, counseling, or otherwise taking any action that shifts the case away from the juvenile justice system. Because of this, if the officer decides to take formal action, he or she must also determine whether the child should be detained or released to his or her parents/guardians. Generally, juveniles are only confined if they pose a risk to others, themselves, or if there is a possibility they will flee if they are dismissed.
If not specified, the juvenile will then follow an adjudicatory hearing, wherein witnesses and other testimony will be shown, similarly to an adult trial, and if the judge discovers that the child is guilty, the child will then have to observe a dispositional hearing. If the judge finds the child is not guilty, the case will be dismissed. The purpose of a dispositional hearing is so that the judge can determine the sanctions and services your child is to obtain. Some of the most common sanctions issued include the following:
- Warnings
- Probation
- Restitution
- High fines
- Community service
In the worst-case scenario, a child may be sent to the Department of Juvenile Justice. If this occurs, the child will be evaluated and then sent either to a residential facility or a juvenile correctional center.
Can I appeal a case?
It is important to recognize that even after a judge imposes sanctions against your child, you are permitted to appeal the decision. This suggests that our skilled legal team can work to prove to the court that the initial judgment was wrong in some way and that your child does not earn to face the suggested penalties.
Contact Our Firm
If you live in Virginia and have been charged with a crime, the time to speak with an experienced Richmond criminal defense attorney is now. Led by Attorney James A. Bullard Jr., our firm has fought on behalf of clients facing serious legal penalties for decades. We handle various criminal and traffic cases, including reckless driving tickets, DUIs, violent crimes, drug crimes, and so much more. Contact James A. Bullard Jr. P.C. today so we can begin formulating a comprehensive defense on your behalf.
