Pennington NJ Juvenile Attorney

Are you a Pennington, New Jersey parent whose child is in custody for a criminal offense? If so, the most important thing you can do is to contact an experienced Pennington, New Jersey juvenile criminal defense attorney. The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall have been helping parents and juveniles for many, many years. We have experience, a thorough knowledge of New Jersey juvenile laws, and the necessary skill sets to properly and zealously defend your child.

Juvenile criminal proceedings are considerably different from adult criminal proceedings; therefore, it is crucial that your child’s attorney have the necessary juvenile law experience. The juvenile defense lawyer you choose for your child can truly make the difference in your child’s future. Don’t let one mistake derail your child’s goals and dreams—contact the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall. We handle all offenses and proceedings at the Juvenile Part of the Mercer County Superior Court, including the following:

• Drug charges;
• Robbery;
• Assault;
• Sex offenses;
• Criminal mischief;
• Waiver and retention hearings, and
• Weapons violations.

Pennington, New Jersey Juvenile Crime

As a relatively small borough in the state of New Jersey, Pennington students enjoy the benefits of smaller schools. Even so, like any town or city, there are juveniles who find themselves in trouble. When you consider that a teenager’s brain does not finish developing in the areas of reason and decision making until he or she has made it to the mid-twenties, you can see that teens are going to make mistakes. The goal of parents is to prevent those mistakes from changing the child’s future in a negative manner.

In the state of New Jersey, nearly a quarter of all serious criminal arrests involve juveniles. A 2009 Uniform Crime Report found that through the year there were 48,923 juvenile arrests across the state. Other than the most serious crimes, juveniles in the state most often committed the crimes of burglary, larceny-theft, and motor-vehicle theft. For less-serious criminal offenses, juveniles are most likely to commit the following crimes:

• Disorderly conduct;
• Malicious mischief;
• Weapons offenses;
• Drug abuse violations, and
• Sex offenses other than rape.

What Happens When Your Child Enters the Pennington, New Jersey Legal System?

The officer in your child’s case may choose to divert the case, meaning your child could be released into your custody, with or without a warning. If the offense your child is alleged to have committed is relatively minor, he or she could be referred to a Juvenile Referee or Conference Committee. If a complaint is signed, charging the commission of a delinquent act, your child could be taken to a juvenile detention facility, pending disposition of the case. Your child can be detained only if he or she is considered a danger to the community, or if it is believed he or she will not show up to Court.

You will also find that the language used in juvenile court is significantly different from the language used in adult court. As an example, your child is not “arrested,” rather he or she is “taken into custody.” And, if the charges against your child are proven, he or she will be “adjudicated delinquent,” rather than “convicted.” While these terms may just seem like semantics, the goal of New Jersey juvenile court is rehabilitation, rather than punishment.

Pennington Juvenile Criminal Defense Lawyers

Because your child is required, under New Jersey law, to have an attorney by their side during juvenile court proceedings, why not have the most experienced Pennington juvenile criminal defense attorney? The lawyers at the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall have over 100 years of combined experience representing children charged with a wide ranger of offenses in Trenton. To speak to a lawyer who is equipped with the knowledge and skill to fully protect your juvenile, call 609–683–8102.