practice areas
Texas children can face juvenile charges as young as ten years old. Some crimes committed while a juvenile can be prosecuted years later, even when you’re an adult. The juvenile justice system can be confusing and overwhelming. An experienced juvenile law attorney can assist your child in getting the best result possible in the minor’s case.
- Juvenile Drug Charge
- Juvenile Theft
- Juvenile Murder
- Juvenile Assault
- Juvenile Burglary
- Juvenile Sexual Assault
- Juvenile Drug Charge
- Juvenile Theft
- Juvenile Murder
- Juvenile Assault
- Juvenile Burglary
- Juvenile Sexual Assault
How are Juvenile Charges Different?
In Texas, a juvenile charge is defined as a crime occurring between the defendant’s 10th and 17th birthday. A juvenile charge can result from breaking criminal law, engaging in delinquent conduct, or violating a court order or probation. Unlike the adult criminal system, an officer does not need to obtain an arrest warrant to arrest a juvenile. However, the officer must deliver the juvenile directly to a processing office without unnecessary delay, and notify the juvenile’s parents immediately.
An experienced juvenile law attorney can assist your child in getting the best result possible in the minor’s case.
The juvenile court system is intended to not only protect the wellbeing of the public, but also to “provide treatment, training, and rehabilitation that emphasizes the accountability and responsibility of both the parent and the child for the child’s conduct.” Though this is meant to aid the juvenile, it can introduce many complications and intricacies that only trained attorneys can navigate.
Travis County’s juvenile justice system is run by the Juvenile Probation Board and administrated by the Juvenile Board, a group of judges overseeing juvenile probation. Cases are brought in the 98 th District Court of Travis County sitting at the Gardner-Betts Juvenile Justice Center. The District Attorney prosecutes juvenile charges.
Juvenile charges can result in punishment ranging from “Deferred Prosecution” to up to forty years in prison and registration as a sex offender. The range of possible results is staggering and charges can be brought for certain offenses even after a child’s 17 th birthday.
Rick Cofer has handled hundreds of juvenile cases, including serving over two years as the designated juvenile sex crimes prosecutor for Travis County. He has extensive experience in juvenile courts handling aggravated sexual assault of a child, sexual assault, and indecency with a child by contact cases. Juvenile sex crimes cases are particularly complex as they regularly involve young children alleged to have committed a sex offense against another child or family member.
If a loved one or family member faces a juvenile charge, it is essential to begin your defense as soon as possible.