Ending someone's life is a serious and painful ordeal that has long-term effects for all involved, especially the loved ones of the deceased. When a juvenile commits such a crime in California, in most instances, the law may treat them as minors; however, there are...
Attorney Adrienne Dell will fight for you.
Juvenile Crimes
Curfews may have many unintended consequences
Cities in California and throughout the country have turned to curfews in an effort to curb youth violence. However, evidence suggests that curfews have done little to reduce crime rates. Instead, some believe that the data shows that they criminalize children and...
Burglary charges and possible defenses in California
California Penal Code Section 459 PC defines the crime of burglary as "entering a structure with the intent to commit a theft or felony once inside." A conviction for burglary in California can result in a prison sentence of up to six years. Burglary in California...
Difference between adult and juvenile proceedings in California
When a child is accused of committing a crime in California, the ensuing legal proceedings can be vastly different from those that would occur if an adult were charged with the same offense. This is because the law takes into account that juveniles, by definition, are...
How undiagnosed ADHD led to crime, punishment and redemption
There's no doubt that being a parent in California can feel like a full-time job. It isn't always easy, especially when your child frequently breaks the law. With that in mind, one parent recently found out that a single diagnosis changed the course of her son's life...
Fewer juveniles are being sent to adult courts
One of the most challenging aspects of the justice system is the fact that juvenile offenders are often placed in the court system for adults. The penalties are much harsher and the prison environment is more dangerous than a juvenile facility, and often this leads to...
What happens to families whose children face juvenile charges?
Understandably, some California parents deal with a lot of stress after learning that their children are facing juvenile charges. If this situation happens, it's helpful to understand what other parents experience during this time. Here's a closer look at what happens...
Is there a bias in juvenile cases?
In California as well as other states, juvenile court has long been an especially unfriendly element of the court system, and there is a considerable amount of opposition to defendants. People in the system need to be ready for this. Juvenile court bias One of the...
Providing juvenile defendants with constitutional protections
According to the Supreme Court, juvenile courts must afford basic constitutional protections. Juveniles have the right to counsel, the right to cross-examine witnesses, the right to silence and the right to advance notice of charges. The Supreme Court is expanding the...
Should juveniles in California get tried as adults?
Not all juvenile crimes are created equal; some are more serious than others. That's why, sometimes, juvenile cases get transferred to adult courts. This happens when the juvenile is charged with a serious crime, or if they’ve had multiple arrests in the past. The...