Cape May County Sheriff Creates Program to Deter Juvenile Offenders
“Jail – It’s not for me” is a new program in Cape May that makes juvenile offenders spend a day in jail. The young offenders wear a jumpsuit, stay behind bars, and eat the same food as regular inmates. Juveniles forced into this program will not have to make contact with the actual inmates. While the intention of preventing juvenile crime is good, it is not clear if such a program is actually effective. In fact, a 2003 study by WestEd determined that such "scared straight" programs tend to have the opposite intended effect on juveniles.
Juveniles face a myriad of potential punishments when they are charged with a crime. While some may get off with community service, others may be placed on a dangerous path of recidivism with an established criminal record. It is important to fully understand the ramifications of a juvenile crime conviction before choosing a lawyer. Failure to hire an experienced attorney could result in the maximum penalties being enforced.
In many cases, the charges a juvenile faces can be reduced through negotiations with the prosecution. When this is not possible, a skilled attorney will fight to have the charges dropped or the conviction kept off the youth's criminal record.
The juvenile crime defense attorneys in Princeton at Lependorf & Silverstein know that your child's life and future is at stake after they have been charged with a crime in New Jersey. Our lawyers have successfully defended charges on behalf of numerous young people. If your son or daughter is facing juvenile charges in New Jersey, please call our law offices at 609-240-0040 today to schedule a no-cost consultation.
