Being declared a “juvenile delinquent” is a dangerous reputation to begin early adulthood. In the state of New York, minors from ages 5-17 can be considered to be in need of confinement, supervision and/or treatment. Additionally, New York is one of the few states that may charge a minor ages 16 or 17 as an adult.

Many factors apply in each case, among them are:

Severity of the offense

Age

Past record

Strength in the evidence in the case

Gender

Social History

Family ability to control behavior

The judge will ultimately decide what is in the best interest of the juvenile based on all of these factors, where the 3 most common outcomes include:

1. Counseling
2. Probation
3. Confinement in Juvenile facility

Having a lawyer to represent a minor is essential to ensure the juvenile is charged appropriately as a youth, and to attack the strength of the case. If your child is facing criminal charges, schedule a consultation today and we will review your case.