Lawrence NJ Juvenile Criminal Lawyers
Lawrence Township ranked 61st in terms of New Jersey School Districts in 2017. While this is obviously good news, that certainly does not immunize the municipality for juvenile criminal charges. If your son or daughter had the unfortunate experience of being arrested or brought in for questioning on suspicion of a criminal offense in Lawrenceville or another area of Lawrence New Jersey, enlisting the services of a qualified juvenile attorney is a must. In fact, you have no discretion in this regard if you are the parent of a juvenile who is facing a charge at the Mercer County Superior Court in Trenton.
You are probably concerned about your child’s future and how you can help them avoid a conviction. These emotions are perfectly understandable but you need to do your best to regain your composure and contact a skilled juvenile lawyer like those at our firm, the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall. Our attorneys understand what you are going through and, more importantly, what steps need to be taken to help you son/daughter get through this difficult time. No matter how strong the case may seem, our team has over 100 years of combined experience to insure a potent defense is presented. Call us at 609–683–8102 to speak to an attorney immediately about any juvenile offense, including:
- Drug charges;
- Robbery;
- Assault;
- Sex offenses;
- Criminal mischief;
- Waiver and retention hearings, and
- Weapons violations.
How the Juvenile Justice System Works
In the state of New Jersey, juvenile arrests comprise about 22.2 percent of all serious arrests, such as rape, murder, robbery, vehicle theft, larceny, theft, burglary, and aggravated assault. If a criminal complaint is signed against your child, he/she has officially entered the juvenile justice system. If this happens, the juvenile can be taken into custody and even detained pending further consideration by a Family Court judge in Trenton. New Jersey only allows a juvenile to be detained, however, if they are considered a danger to the community or there is a risk that the juvenile might not show up for his or her Court hearing. There is also a possibility, if the offense is relative minor, that the offense will be referred to a Juvenile Referee or Conference Committee. Otherwise, the charges will be directed to the Family Division where the juvenile is required to be represented by an attorney. You will either have to qualify for a public defender or retain a private lawyer to handle the criminal charge.
Understanding the Differences in Language Between Adult Court and Juvenile Court
Under New Jersey juvenile law, your child is not “arrested,” rather he or she is “taken into custody.” If the charges against your child are proven, he or she is not “convicted,” rather the term is “adjudicated delinquent.” Other than the more serious offenses, juveniles in the state of New Jersey are most often arrested for criminal or malicious mischief (39.7 percent) and liquor law violations (32.4%). When considering juvenile arrests, age, gender, race/ethnicity and location of the arrest can provide important information. Sixteen and seventeen-year-olds make up the majority of juvenile arrests at nearly 25 percent and 31 percent, while juveniles who are twelve years old or younger only make up about 6 percent of all juvenile arrests. Males account for almost three-fourths of all juvenile arrests, and about 86 percent of all violent crime juvenile arrests.
Lawrence Juvenile Defense Attorney
If your child has been arrested in Lawrence, it is imperative that you bring in a highly experienced Mercer County juvenile criminal defense attorney. Here at the Marshall Law Firm, we possess a staff of eight lawyers, several of whom are former prosecutors, that have been practicing in the juvenile part for over a century. Our attorneys will work hard to ensure the very best outcome for your child, protecting his or her future against the juvenile criminal offense he/she is facing. Contact our Lawrence Office anytime 24/7 at 609–683–8102 for immediate assistance.