The Matlock Law Firm, P.C.
Fort Worth Juvenile Lawyer/ Tarrant County Juvenile Defense Attorney/ Texas Juvenile Defense
Fort Worth Juvenile Defense Attorney/ Tarrant County Juvenile Lawyer/ Texas Juvenile Defense/ Texas Juvenile Criminal Defense
Juvenile Defense
Juvenile Defense is the defense of children charged with delinquent conduct. The nature of the juvenile justice system is inherently civil in nature, however there is clearly a very real criminal element to it. A juvenile is charged with a crime, whether that be DWI or Murder, yet the proceedings in juvenile court are vastly different than those found in Texas State Courts.
A juvenile case is typically begun with the filing of a Petition Alleging Delinquent Conduct. This is the formal charging document. It is similar to a misdemeanor information or a felony indictment. The Petition alleges a minor child to have engaged in some form of conduct which requires supervision on the part of the courts.
The range of punishment available to the juvenile courts is somewhat limited. Pursuant to the Texas Family Code, commitment to the Texas Youth Commission is only available for felony level offenses. However, anyone facing the prospects of such a commitment should not take that possibility lightly. Aggressive representation is needed to ensure a juvenile is not committed to TYC for either a determinate sentence or indeterminate sentence.
If a juvenile is committed to TYC, there is the possibility they could be transferred to a prison facility of the Texas Department of Corrections. This is true despite the conduct occurring while the juvenile is potentially as young as 10 years old.
The vocabulary of the juvenile system is different from that of adult court, however the outcome is generally the same. For example, a child does not plead guilty in juvenile court, rather he stipulates to the evidence. There is not a finding of guilt, rather there exists an adjudication as delinquent. A child does not endure a sentencing hearing, instead the punishment is handed down during a disposition hearing. Although the language is different, the outcome can be the same.
Not only is the vocabulary of the juvenile courts different, so too are the procedures by which a juvenile operates. Additionally, the involvement of the juvenile probation office from the outset can be both beneficial as well as a hinderance. Juvenile probation has available a myriad of resources for the betterment of the juvenile offender that are not available to the adult criminal defendant. This is due to the overall goal of juvenile courts which is to rehabilitate and teach the juvenile offender, in comparison to the adult criminal system whose primary goal is punishment.
Juvenile defense can play an incredibly important role in a young person’s life. A bad outcome to a juvenile case can mean disasterous results that extend far beyond the child’s eighteenth birthday.
If your child is charged with an offense in juvenile court, it is important to seek representation from an attorney that not only understands the juvenile justice system, but has had unprecedented success within it. Contact the Matlock Law Firm and Juvenile Defense Attorney M. Shawn Matlock.
Fort Worth Juvenile Defense Attorney/ Tarrant County Juvenile Lawyer/ Texas Juvenile Defense/ Texas Juvenile Criminal Defense
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