One of the primary concerns I hear parents express when they come in for a consultation related to a juvenile case is that they worry the juvenile offense and its consequences will ruin their child's future. However, it's essential to remember that with the right legal support, a positive future remains within reach. Legal support can pave the way for your child's successful admission to a good high school or college, and even secure a promising job in the future.

In other words, when the child tries to get into a good high school or college or goes to try to get a job in the future, that juvenile criminal conviction or that contact with the police is going to end up putting them in a bad position so that a potential college admissions board, for example, uses that conviction to deny the child from getting into the school or even looking further into the future, a potential employer sees that while that individual was a juvenile they picked up a criminal case and decides not to hire that person.

These are obviously concerns that make a lot of sense when you're concerned about your child's future. The criminal justice system for juveniles in Los Angeles is definitely a tough one. You want to make sure that when you hire your attorney, one of the first concerns that your attorney has is protecting your child's future — protecting their criminal record and making sure that everything is done in the best interest of your minor or juvenile or son or daughter.  Understanding the juvenile court system is crucial, as it empowers you to make informed decisions about your child's future.

Depending on how severe the allegations are in a criminal case, another concern that you should have is that your minor is tried as an adult instead of as a juvenile, because the adult court is much more likely to end in a conviction that you cannot get off your child's record.

Whereas, there are protections in the juvenile court in LA County that can result in your child's record being sealed and destroyed.  If the record is sealed and destroyed, then your child will be in a position where nobody can see that record, offering a fresh start and a chance to move forward positively.

That even includes the police because once the record is sealed and destroyed, the Department of Justice and the police no longer have it on their computers.  Our system is designed to prevent these types of convictions.

Sealing and Destroying Juvenile Records

The only exception to this sealing and destroying is if your child is convicted of a 707b offense.  This is a welfare code section in Los Angeles County that lists all the serious crimes for which it is more difficult to obtain relief.  It's a lot more difficult to get rid of.  It's a lot more difficult to seal and destroy.

That's why it's so important when you hire your juvenile criminal defense attorney that that person is actually familiar with the Los Angeles juvenile court system, knows about these 707b offenses, how to avoid them, and what can be done so that if we can get your child back on line, we can be in a position to avoid that juvenile conviction that ends up being a 707b offense and stays on your child's record. Hiring a knowledgeable attorney can give you the confidence that your child's future is in good hands.

This is crucial because a criminal record can haunt your child deep into adulthood and prevent them from achieving many of the goals and aspirations that you have for them. Therefore, you must consider the type of offense with which they're charged, in addition to protecting their future, because convictions can result in very serious consequences.

For example, the three-strikes law definitely applies to juvenile defendants. Any conviction that would be a strike as an adult, if a juvenile were to receive a conviction for the same crime and is sixteen years or older, would also be a strike as an adult, and that would remain on their criminal record.

One exception to this is a residential burglary.  That will not be considered a strike.  However, robberies, for example, are considered strikes if you're sixteen years or older and sustain a conviction at the juvenile level for robbery; in this case, you can end up with a strike on your criminal record.

So, if you, in fact, have a juvenile criminal case pending against you, there are many different concerns that you should have. I encourage you to pick up the phone and call my firm. We will immediately begin protecting your child's rights to freedom and, most importantly, their future, empowering you to take control of the situation.