Understanding Prosecution of New Jersey Juvenile Felony Offenses
It is common for juvenile first-time offenders charged with minor offenses or misdemeanors to be shown some leniency by the juvenile court. The same cannot always be said, however, for youths facing felony charges. Depending upon the circumstances, felony charges can result in a juvenile tried as an adult and the resulting penalties can be severe. The parents of a teenager facing felony charges would be well advised to immediately contact a skilled defense attorney.
In New Jersey, there are a number of indictable crimes (felonies) that can result in jail sentences. Examples of such crimes include assault, robbery, burglary, theft, rape, murder, arson, manslaughter, and drug offenses. If it is possible to keep the case in juvenile court, the youth will likely face a lengthy juvenile detention sentence as well as hours of community service and rehabilitation. If, however, the charges are handled in an adult court, the penalties can be significantly more life changing.
When a juvenile felony case is handled in an adult criminal court, the crime will be classified as either a first, second, third, or fourth degree offense. It is important that all criminal charges be taken seriously. A fourth degree felony conviction carries a sentence of up to 18 months. A first-degree felony offense could result in a 20-year sentence.
The experienced juvenile felony criminal defense lawyers in Princeton at Lependorf & Silverstein fight to keep juvenile cases out of adult court. We take a multi-faceted approach to effectively fight the charges and reduce the resulting penalties. Please call our offices at (609) 240-0040 for a no-cost consultation if your child is facing felony charges in New Jersey.
