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Philadelphia Juvenile Lawyer

Juvenile Lawyers in Philadelphia PA

When your child is arrested and charged with committing a criminal offense in Philadelphia, it is natural to be concerned and worried about their future. Even juvenile offenses can follow a child throughout their life. If the offense is violent or severe, they could even face conviction in an adult court of law. Due to the seriousness of being adjudicated delinquent in Philadelphia, it is important to speak to an experienced and skilled Philadelphia juvenile defense lawyer immediately. Without a lawyer on your child’s side, they could spend time in a detention center, a residential home for youth, or even have their case tried in an adult court of law.

Are you looking for the Best Philadelphia Juvenile Lawyer for your Child?

Of course you are looking for the best criminal attorney for your juvenile child when he or she is facing criminal charges that can impact their life and their future.  At Ciccarelli Law Offices, our Philadelphia County juvenile defense attorney have the experience and resources need to tackle even the most complicated and serious juvenile defense cases. You can contact our office by email or by phone at (610) 692-8700 or 877 529-2422. From the moment you step into our office, you and your child aren’t just a case number, you become our number one priority. We work tirelessly to keep your child out of detention centers and out of the adult court system and we fight aggressively to protect and safeguard their future. We know the juvenile court system in Philadelphia County and have been representing Philadelphia children and teens accused of committing criminal acts for decades.

While the focus of the Philadelphia juvenile legal system is rehabilitation, adult courts focus more heavily on punishment. However, did you know that juveniles under the age of 18 can be tried as adults for serious and violent crimes, such as murder (42 Pa. C. S. Sec. 6302) or use of a deadly weapon (42 Pa. C. S. Sec. 6355(g))? Before deciding to have your child’s case transferred to an adult court, the judge will first examine all the details of the incident and determine if it is in the public’s best interest for this case to proceed in adult court. This is when the services of a juvenile defense lawyer is invaluable 

Finding the Best Philadelphia Juvenile Attorneys  

Philadelphia is the sixth most populous city in the United States and the largest city and county in the state of Pennsylvania.  The Delaware Valley’s population of 7.2 million makes it the 8th largest combined statistical area in the United States. More than 6 million residents call Philadelphia County their home, including five Fortune 1000 companies. Surrounding counties include Berks County, Bucks County, Chester County, Montgomery County, and Lancaster County.

In Philadelphia, 2,507 juveniles were admitted to detention centers in 2016 and these juveniles spent an average of 7 days in detainment. Philadelphia’s only secure juvenile detention center is operated by the Department of Human Services and is located on North 48th St in Philadelphia. Juveniles between the ages of 13 and 20 are held here while they wait for their cases to proceed through the Philadelphia court system. They provide around the clock supervision and a wide variety of professional services, such as mental health evaluations, social services, and education.

In 2016, 141,550 juveniles live in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. According to the 2016 Pennsylvania Juvenile Court Dispositions, Philadelphia juveniles made up nearly 12% of all the statewide dispositions with 2,737 total dispositions that year. There were 10,720 alleged juvenile offenses and 744 substantiated offenses in Philadelphia that year. Of those substantiated juvenile offenses that year, 278 were offenses committed against a person, 189 were property offenses, 137 were drug offenses. 140 were offenses that were classified as “other” juvenile offenses, such as disorderly conduct, weapon offenses, or probation violations.

While some juvenile offenses in Philadelphia are serious and violent crimes, the majority of the juvenile offenses are minor offenses such as underage drinking, possession of marijuana, truancy, and vandalism. These types of offenses pose little to no threat to the general public, however, they can have a long-lasting effect on your child’s life, especially without an experienced Philadelphia juvenile offense lawyer on their side.

Juvenile Criminal Defense Lawyers in Philadelphia County

For decades, the Philadelphia County juvenile criminal defense lawyers at Ciccarelli Law Offices have been representing juveniles who have been accused or adjudicated delinquent of committing crimes, including:

Throughout Philadelphia County, we’ve assisted juveniles who have been detained for committing delinquent acts, including those living in: Center City, South Pennsylvania, Southwest Philadelphia, West Philadelphia, North Philadelphia, Bridesburg-Kensington-Port Richmond, Roxborough-Manayunk, Germantown-Chestnut Hill, Olney-Oak Lane, Northeast Philadelphia, Oxford Circle, Olney, West Oak Lane, Mayfair, Cobbs Creek, Somerton, Bustleton, Overbrook, Homesburg, Richmond, and Rhawnhurst.

The Philadelphia County Juvenile Justice Process Overview

As a parent, the juvenile process can be complicated and overwhelming. This is made even more difficult by deadlines and various hearings, as well as a plethora of confusing legal terms. It is important to understand this process, so you can better assist your child along the way. In addition, parents who take an active role in their child’s future will have a better chance of helping their child turn their life around after an arrest.

  • Arrest – your child is arrested and accused of committing a criminal act. Your child will either be placed in a detention center to await a hearing or they will be allowed to return home to wait for the Juvenile Probation Officer’s contact.
  • JPO Assessment – when your child is arrested, the intake process will begin and your child’s case will be assigned to a Juvenile Probation Officer. This officer will begin the assessment of your child’s case and determine how it would be best to proceed through the juvenile process.
  • Detention Hearing – when your child is placed in a detention center, the law states that they must be granted a detention hearing within 72 hours to determine if they are allowed to go home or placed back into detention as their case progresses through the juvenile court.
  • JPO Determination – once the JPO assessment is complete, the JPO will determine how to proceed with your child’s case. They will base this determination on numerous factors including the criminal act, the effect the criminal act had on the victim and society, the child, and the child’s home life. In general, they will make one of four determinations:
  • Dismissal – your child’s case is dismissed and all charges dropped. There is no need for further action.
  • Informal Adjustment – your child will be sent home to comply with specific JPO orders for 6 months. After this time period, your child’s case will be dismissed and charges will be dropped.
  • Consent Decree – a petition will be filed to have your child’s case proceed in the courts. However, this can be stopped if your child, your child’s attorney, and the District Attorney can agree to probation terms.
  • Adjudication Hearing – your child’s case will proceed through the juvenile courts and a petition will be filed to request an Adjudication Hearing
  • Adjudication Hearing – this is similar to an adult trial and your child’s lawyer will have a chance to present their defense. During this time, the prosecution (the District Attorney) will also have a chance to present their case. After the adjudication hearing, the judge will make the final say and ruling on whether your child is adjudicated delinquent.
  • Disposition Hearing – this is similar to a sentencing hearing in an adult court. Here your child will learn what consequences they will face because of their delinquency. The judge may put them on probation or send them to a detention center or residential home. The conditions and terms of your child’s probation will also be outlined during this hearing, as well as any conditions to pay fines or restitution to the victim.

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 a 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?

How a Philadelphia County Juvenile Defense Attorney Can Help

Finding out that your child has been arrested for committing a crime is a scary time for most parents. There are often many questions running through your mind and your utmost priority will be protecting your child. During this time, an experienced Philadelphia County juvenile defense lawyer can help your child and safeguard their future every step of the way. At Ciccarelli Law Offices, our Philadelphia juvenile defense lawyers have extensive knowledge of the Philadelphia juvenile defense system and courts. Contact Ciccarelli Law Offices at (215) 228-0100 immediately to begin building a solid defense against these serious charges.

Looking for Top Rated Philadelphia Juvenile Lawyers Ready to Fight

Our main office is located at 1515 Market Street, Suite 1200 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to better serve you. We have successfully defended juveniles throughout Pennsylvania who have been arrested and accused of a variety of crimes.  Our juvenile criminal defense lawyers are ready and willing to fight for you and your child during this difficult time. We represent juvenile clients in Chester County, Berks County, Bucks County, Lancaster County, Delaware County, Montgomery County and Philadelphia. 

 

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