Juveniles May be Able to Avoid Court Hearings in New Jersey
New Jersey is actively working to keep minors out of courthouses and give them valuable second chances. According to a news report in The Star-Ledger, just this year, 8,254 cases have been handled by juvenile conference committees instead of courts. That accounts for 17 percent of all juvenile complaints in New Jersey. The goal of these committees is to keep youth out of trouble by talking to young people instead of sending them to courtrooms and eventually, juvenile hall. This system, which allows parents and young people to plead in front of town residents instead of a judge, has been in place in New Jersey since the 1950s.
These committees work on the premise that kids make mistakes and deserve a second chance. Most often, the punishment given to juveniles by these committees is community service. Sometimes, the youngsters are required to write essays about what they did or letters of apology addressed to the victims. The New Jersey juvenile crimes range from underage drinking and drug possession to shoplifting or petty theft.
There are of course many juvenile cases that are still sent to the courts. Being convicted of a crime as a juvenile is extremely serious and can have grave consequences on the life and future of the young person involved. Juvenile crime cases are very complex and it is critical that each case is assessed by a skilled criminal defense lawyer and the appropriate legal actions are taken promptly and efficiently.
If your child has been accused of a crime in New Jersey, please contact an experienced Princeton juvenile crime defense lawyer at Lependorf and Silverstein for a free consultation. We will evaluate the circumstances of the case and help build a successfully defense strategy on your child’s behalf. Please call our law office today at 609-240-0040 to find out how we can help.
