Juvenile Offenses - Criminal Defense

Experienced Legal Help

At the Law Offices of Steven H. Mevorah, our juvenile crime attorneys have decades of criminal defense experience and regularly represent juveniles in the following types of cases:

At the forefront in juvenile law, the Illinois legislature was the first state to establish a separate court for children. The Illinois Juvenile Court Act of 1899 enacted a legal court system for juveniles that the rest of the country soon emulated.

Juvenile Court Approach and Procedure

Traditionally, juvenile courts have sought to reform or rehabilitate children, rather than punish or incarcerate them. While in recent years the emphasis in prosecuting juveniles as adults has shifted for certain felonies; overall, the orientation towards the rehabilitation of minors still prevails in juvenile law today. There are procedural similarities between the criminal justice system and juvenile courts; however, use of different legal terms by the juvenile court system shows a contrast in purpose, for example:

• Juvenile delinquency (instead of criminal act or crime)
• Adjudication (hearing before a judge, similar to a trial)
• Delinquency petition (instead of indictment)
• Adjudged delinquent (instead of "found guilty")
• Custodial confinement (order for juvenile placement in a secure facility for rehabilitation as opposed to imprisonment)
• Status offense (offenses that are only illegal when committed by juveniles and are not applicable to adults, e.g. truancy, underage drinking or smoking, curfew violations, running away from home, etc.)

Under Illinois law, juveniles are children who are 16 years of age and younger. Individuals 17 years and older are tried as adults in the criminal justice system.

In federal juvenile cases, juveniles are persons under the age of 18, and laws are similar to state juvenile laws.

Juvenile Rights

Many juvenile’s rights are the same as adult rights, such as the right to receive notice of charges, the right to attorney, right to confront and question witnesses and respond to evidence, freedom from self-incrimination, and proof beyond a reasonable doubt. However, the court brings juvenile cases before a judge, and there is no trial by a jury of peers.

If your child has been arrested or is being investigated for juvenile crime, we encourage you to contact a criminal defense lawyer at our firm immediately. We can help you understand the laws involved and legal options available. There are other alternatives to juvenile detention, such as probation and drug/alcohol rehabilitation programs, etc. Our lawyers make every effort to protect your child’s rights, see that your child’s case is heard in the juvenile court system rather than the criminal justice system, and seek alternatives to custodial confinement.

The Law Offices of Steven H. Mevorah & Associates offers a free initial consultation to discuss juvenile law issues. Contact Us Online or call 630-932-9100.