Montgomery County Juvenile Defense Lawyer
One of the worst phone calls a parent can receive is one saying that their child has been arrested for a crime. During those first few days following their arrest, parents are rightfully concerned about how this mistake will affect their child’s entire life. Being arrested and spending time in a juvenile detention center can adversely affect their futures, their education and employment opportunities, and their self-esteem. If they’re also struggling with drug or alcohol dependency or have a mental illness, being arrested can cause them to worsen and can put their lives in jeopardy. The Montgomery County Juvenile Court can be a tough, sobering experience for your child. Get the help they need now.
As a parent, it is important to know that just because your child is under the age of 18, doesn’t mean that they will avoid going to prison. In many cases, juveniles under the age of 18 can be tried as adults in a court of law. If they’re convicted, they may have a felony criminal record for the remainder of their lives or suffer other harsh penalties such as mandatory sex offender registration or the loss of the right to own a firearm. Are you in need of an experienced juvenile lawyer in King of Prussia, Pottstown, Plymouth Meeting, Hatboro, Horsham, or Ardmore?
Contact A Montgomery County Juvenile Defense Lawyer Today
At Ciccarelli Law Offices, our Montgomery County juvenile defense attorneys are ready to assist you and your family during this difficult and emotional time. You can contact our office by email or by phone at (610) 692-8700 or 877 529-2422.
When you contact our Montgomery County, Pennsylvania juvenile defense attorneys today, you can rest assured knowing your child has a team of experienced juvenile defense lawyers in their corner fighting for them every step of the way. Without an attorney, your child could face serious penalties and consequences that could adversely affect their entire life.
Juvenile Crime in Montgomery County
In 2016, 511 juveniles were admitted to detention centers in Montgomery County for an average of 6 days per visit. The Montgomery County Youth Center is located in Norristown, Pennsylvania. It is a 48-bed detention center that houses juveniles between the ages of 10 and 18 who are awaiting juvenile court hearings. Their primary objective is to provide a safe place for juveniles in custody. They provide round-the-clock direct supervision and often provide courts with a full psychosocial evaluation for use at the juvenile disposition hearing.
According to the 2022 Juvenile Court Annual Report, there were more than 17,000 delinquency allegations across the state. Of those, 6,588 committed an offense to a person, 3,899 were property crimes, and 2,426 were drug offenses. 6,563 offenses committed in 2022 were other crimes that ranged from disorderly conduct to firearm offenses.
The majority of children and teenagers who are arrested are arrested for minor crimes that pose no major threat to society, such as underage drinking, vandalism, truancy, or probation violations. As such, the juvenile court system focuses on rehabilitation instead of punishment. In addition, care is taken to keep the minor in their own home unless it is determined that their home life contributed to their delinquency or is harmful to the child.
Juvenile Criminal Defense Lawyers In Montgomery County
At Ciccarelli Law Offices, our Montgomery County juvenile criminal defense lawyers have successfully represented juveniles accused of committing a variety of crimes, including:
- Shoplifting
- Theft
- Vandalism
- Underage drinking
- DUI
- Disorderly conduct
- Assault or battery
- Possession of marijuana
- Drug sales, trafficking, or possession
- Bullying or other school offenses
- Traffic violations
- Manslaughter
- Juvenile Drug Charges
- Juvenile Marijuana Charges
- Juvenile DUI
- Minor in Possession of Alcohol
- Juvenile Theft
- Juvenile Sex Crimes
- Juvenile Assault
- Homicide
- Possession
- College Offenses
- School crimes
- Juvenile Court
- Expungement
- Serious Crimes
Throughout Montgomery County, we’ve helped juveniles who have been accused of crimes, including Norristown, Pottstown, King of Prussia, Lansdale, Willow Grove, Horsham, Montgomeryville, Ardmore, Harleysville, Audubon, Glenside, Sanatoga, Kulpsville, Conshohocken, Hatboro, Maple Glen, Souderton, Ambler, Plymouth Meeting, Blue Bell, Trooper, Penn Wynne, Oreland, Wyndmoor, and Fort Washington.
Montgomery Juvenile Crime Process Overview
The intake process begins as soon as your child is arrested. When your child is arrested, they will either be released home to await a meeting with their Juvenile Probation Intake Officer or they will be sent to a juvenile detention center to await their hearing. If they are sent to a detention center, they must receive a detention hearing within 72 hours. During that hearing, the judge will determine if they are to be released home or if continued detention is recommended.
If your child has committed a minor offense or is a first-time offender, they may be sent to the county’s First Offender or Diversion Program. These youths are not referred to the juvenile court system and their case is closed. If your child is referred to the juvenile court, then the intake officer will continue their assessments of the case and of your child. The probation intake officer will then make a determination to either refer your child to informal supervision or file a petition with the court for an Adjudication Hearing.
If there is enough evidence against your child and the offense isn’t minor, a delinquency petition will be filed and your child’s case will be heard by a judge at their Adjudication Hearing. During this hearing, the District Attorney will present their case and your child’s defense attorney will present theirs. It is similar to an adult trial, except there is no jury. The judge will decide if your child has committed the delinquent act and whether your child is in need of supervision, treatment, or rehabilitation.
The final hearing will be the Disposition Hearing. This is when the judge will determine what should happen to your child. The juvenile will either be placed on probation or sent to a juvenile residential facility for further supervision. Juveniles may face hefty fines, the payment of restitution, and potential community service.
Key Issues in Juvenile Defense
Juvenile Proceedings in Pennsylvania
Deferred Adjudication and the Consent Decree for Chester County Juveniles
Potential Consequences for a Juvenile Conviction in West Chester
How will Juvenile Charges Impact My College Application?
Do you need a Juvenile Attorney?
What is the Juvenile Court Process?
Will Your Child Be Prosecuted Like an Adult?
What Does a Juvenile Probation Officer Do?
What’s the Difference Between a Juvenile and an Adult Prosecution?
Penalties That Come With a Juvenile Conviction
The adult criminal justice system is designed to be punitive. Individuals convicted of criminal offenses will face criminal penalties and collateral consequences that will continue to follow them for the rest of their lives. However, Pennsylvania does not handle the juvenile justice system in the same way. Instead of punishing children and teenagers for unlawful conduct, The Commonwealth aims to provide rehabilitation opportunities so children can look forward to a brighter future.
However, that does not mean teens and children will not face penalties for delinquency. Children are not convicted of crimes in juvenile court. Instead, they can be found guilty or not guilty of juvenile delinquency. When adjudicated through the PA juvenile justice system, kids may be subject to a variety of penalties, including probation. If placed on probation, your child will be expected to meet the terms of their probationary sentence. Such terms might include:
- Attending school
- Avoiding drugs or alcohol
- Paying restitution to alleged victims for destruction of property
- Completing community service hours
- Staying away from other juvenile delinquents
- Court-ordered mental health counseling or group therapy
- Court-ordered anger management or drug or alcohol treatment
You do not have to worry about your child being sent to jail or prison with adult criminal offenders. However, depending on the type of crime your child was accused of committing, confinement at a Pennsylvania juvenile detention facility or child welfare facility is a possibility. This may be particularly concerning, as many juvenile detention facilities across the state have faced scrutiny for their treatment of youth offenders. According to House Bill 1708, legislators are seeking to implement several task force recommendations, including:
- Limiting restitution for juveniles
- Eliminating juvenile fines
- Requiring diversion programs for lower-level offenses
- Increasing the age for juvenile to adult court transfers from 14 to 16
- Prohibiting juvenile detention for offenders under the age of 14
- Raising the minimum age of juvenile court jurisdiction to 13
- Eliminating solitary confinement in juvenile facilities
- Requiring Miranda rights specific to juvenile offenders
Collateral Consequences For Juvenile Crimes
It is not only the penalties in juvenile court that you need to worry about. Your child’s juvenile offense record could continue to have a negative impact on their life for years to come. With a delinquency charge that has not been sealed, your child may miss out on many opportunities to rebuild their life. For example, a juvenile delinquency charge could mean your child no longer qualifies for federal student aid, is rejected when applying for college, or is unable to enlist in the United States military.
Your child could also be passed over for job opportunities in favor of a child without a delinquency charge on their record. Furthermore, if your child spends time in a juvenile detention facility instead of promoting rehabilitation, your child could fall in deeper with the wrong crowd. Your child could also be subject to physical or emotional abuse in these facilities and ultimately become a hardened criminal who continues to move in and out of the criminal court system for the rest of their life.
With penalties this severe, it has never been more important to safeguard your child’s future. Working with a Montgomery County juvenile defense attorney from Ciccarelli Law Offices may be the best way to help your child clear their name and avoid the devastating consequences that come with a guilty verdict.
How to Protect Your Child’s Future After Criminal Charges
If you hope to protect your child and their future, building a powerful defense strategy should be one of your top priorities. After reviewing the specific circumstances of your child’s case, your juvenile defense attorney will consider which defense strategies are most suitable. We may be able to avoid a formal petition by getting your child enrolled in a diversionary program. By obtaining therapy, drug or alcohol treatment, and completing community service, your child could avoid being found guilty of juvenile delinquency.
When a juvenile delinquent petition is filed, we will need to attend an intake conference. Here, we will meet with a probation officer or another representative of the juvenile justice system to consider potential alternatives to going to court. Our goal will be to obtain an informal adjustment. Here, the Montgomery County court will not take any action against your child but will continue to monitor your child for additional instances of delinquency.
Alternatively, the juvenile court system may issue a consent decree which places your child on probation. Upon completion of the terms of probation, the delinquency in question will be dismissed and your child’s arrest record can be expunged. Though many juvenile delinquencies are eligible for an expungement, in limited circumstances, expunction may be prohibited.
Probation In Montgomery County
If your child is placed on probation, they will remain in your home and under your care. During this time your child must follow rules and conditions that the Court has imposed. Some of those rules outline where your child is allowed to go, who they are allowed to spend time with, and when they must return home.
They may also include guidelines for paying restitution to the victim, attending substance abuse or mental health treatment programs, paying court fines, and attending counseling. The goal of probation is to rehabilitate your child and help them turn their lives around. To do this, they will need their family’s love and support.
When your child is on informal supervision or probation in Montgomery County, there are numerous things parents can do to support them and improve their futures:
- Questions – The legal process is complicated and parents are often stressed and confused throughout. Ask your attorney and your child’s probation officer questions so you can better understand the process and what is required of both you and your child.
- Educate – It is important to know what your child needs to do to complete all court orders and determine what your responsibilities will be during this time. For example, you may be required to drive your child to treatment programs or probation meetings.
- Participate – Troubled juveniles need their parents on their side during this difficult time. Participation is key to showing your child that they matter and that they have a loving and supportive team in their corner. Take an active interest in your child’s education, attend counseling sessions if possible, and seek out support groups.
- Available – Be available at all times for your child and the probation officer or people caring for your child. Attend meetings, keep a working telephone number, update contact information, and keep communication open.
- Plan – Work on a plan for how you and your family will help your child transition from detention or treatment facilities back to their home life. Work with teachers to develop an educational plan and work with your teen to help them plan for their future.
Montgomery County Juvenile Defense FAQ
How long will my child be on probation?
The maximum amount of time your child can be placed on probation will depend on their age. Children can continue to be on probation until they reach 21 years of age, according to Title 42 – PA General Assembly. A child who enters the juvenile justice system at age 10, for example, could spend up to 11 years on probation.
How can a juvenile defense lawyer help my child?
Although juvenile delinquency is not considered as severe as a criminal offense, being labeled a juvenile delinquent could have serious consequences on your child’s future. Your juvenile defense attorney in Montgomery County with Ciccarelli Law Offices understands that children make mistakes.
These mistakes could be corrected with the appropriate rehabilitation measures. You can rely on our team to work with the juvenile court representatives to secure the best possible opportunities for justice. We do not want your child to be punished but rather given the opportunity to learn and grow from their mistakes. This could help your child get their life back on track and avoid becoming a career criminal.
Do I need to hire a juvenile defense attorney in Montgomery County?
It may be in your best interest to hire a juvenile defense lawyer to advocate for your child’s rights. The consequences of being found guilty of juvenile delinquency could be harsh, depending on the type of offense your child is accused of committing. The right Montgomery criminal defense lawyer can help your child understand the severity of the allegations against them and the potential consequences that follow a guilty verdict.
Our team will carefully analyze the circumstances of your child’s case to determine how to best approach their defense strategy. Ultimately, we will prepare you for all possible outcomes and work tirelessly to craft a strategic defense on your child’s behalf.
How a Montgomery County Juvenile Defense Attorney Can Help
One arrest could alter the course of your child’s life forever. Children and young teenagers are impressionable and often make mistakes. However, one mistake or transgression shouldn’t necessarily define their entire life. Sadly, for many juveniles – it does. When your child is facing juvenile charges, it is important to fight these charges aggressively to protect their future and help them get their lives back on track. Contact Ciccarelli Law Offices at (610) 692-8700.
Our Montgomery County office is located at 494 West Germantown Pike, Plymouth Meeting, PA to better serve you. We have successfully defended juveniles throughout Pennsylvania who have been arrested and accused of a variety of crimes. We represent juvenile clients in Chester County, Berks County, Bucks County, Lancaster County, Delaware County, Montgomery County and Philadelphia.