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Recent statistics indicate one-quarter of all Americans (70 million people) are under the age of eighteen. The upper age at which one is legally considered a juvenile varies by state. The juvenile court has general jurisdiction over matters involving minors. The upper age for juveniles to be tried in these courts is between fifteen and seventeen depending on the state and case specifics. Seventeen is the federal age limit for juvenile status. The juvenile criminal justice system has several unique features that differ from those intrinsic to the adult criminal justice systems across our nation.

The frequency of juvenile crime in America reached its pinnacle in 1994 and has been in decline ever since. Juvenile crime is still prevalent in the United States, with over two million juvenile offenders detained annually. Fifteen to twenty-five percent of violent crimes are committed by juveniles. Of the non-fatal juvenile violent crimes, the majority are committed against other juveniles. Nearly half of the victims of juvenile crimes know their assailant. Three quarters of these offenders are males, who commit the majority of juvenile crimes across the board.

There are five broad categories of juvenile crimes that are handled in the juvenile justice system: crimes against people, crimes against property, drug law violations, public order offenses, and status violations. Juvenile crimes against another person can be violent or non-violent in nature. Crimes against people account for about one in five juvenile crimes and can include: homicide, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assault, simple assault, and more.

Crimes against property comprise about forty percent of juvenile crimes and include: burglary, larceny, arson, vehicle theft, vandalism, trespassing, and more. Drug crimes account for about 15 percent of all juvenile crimes. One-quarter of juvenile crimes are public order offenses such as weapons offenses, liquor law violations, disorderly conduct, and more. Status violations include runaways, truancy, and numerous other violations.

When a juvenile commits an unlawful act it is called an act of delinquency, whereas an illegal offense perpetrated by an adult is called a crime. The handling of juvenile crimes occurs primarily in the juvenile court system. In some cases, however, a juvenile court will waive a case to the criminal (adult) courts. About half of all juvenile cases are heard informally by a judge who hears the facts in question and orders some corrective action.

Juveniles have many of the same rights as adults do in case proceedings, with some exceptions. Juvenile defendants have the right to receive notice of charges, obtain legal counsel, call witnesses in their defense, protect themselves against self incrimination, appeal a decision, and receive a copy of the court record. Juvenile records are highly confidential and can often be cleared from a person’s criminal record. If you would like to learn more about juvenile crimes and legal cases, please contact us to speak with a qualified and experienced attorney who can evaluate your case to orchestrate a defense that will best protect and maximize your rights and interests.

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