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Hartford Juvenile Crimes Defense Attorneys

Hartford Juvenile Crimes Defense Attorneys

Reliable representation for juvenile offenses in Manchester & Hartford CT

As a parent, you do everything you can to prepare your child to make good decisions and choices. Sometimes, however, your child makes mistakes. And when they do, you want to ensure they get the help and resources they need to ensure they don’t make those mistakes again – and that a youthful mistake doesn’t follow them around for the rest of their life. When your child is arrested, you both may feel overwhelmed and frightened.

A skilled attorney can help. The Hartford criminal defense lawyers at Barry, Taylor & Levesque, LLC have decades of experience with the juvenile justice system and understand the differences between juvenile and adult court. The consequences are still serious and can negatively affect the life of your child and your family. Let us help you navigate the complicated court system and protect your child’s valuable rights. Call us today.

Common juvenile crimes and offenses in Hartford

Juvenile criminal arrests aren’t uncommon in the United States. In fact, in 2017, more than 809,000 juveniles were arrested for various crimes – with 8,429 of those arrests occurring in Connecticut. We defend youthful offenders for a multitude of offenses, including:

If law enforcement contacts you to inform you that your child has been arrested and charged with an offense, it’s in your best interests to contact a Hartford juvenile criminal defense attorney immediately. A skilled lawyer can explain your child’s rights and how to protect them, as well as prepare you for what’s coming next.

Areas of Focus

Testimonials

Extremely Grateful
"I had the pleasure of working with Anthony Spinella on an unfortunate criminal matter and am extremely grateful for the prearrest and pretrial defense. Thanks to Attorney Spinella, I was granted AR."

Nicky M.

Professionally Compassionate
"I also wanted to share how impressed I was with Briana. She is professionally compassionate and has been an amazing resource with putting my mind at ease during such stressful times."

Nicky M.

Your child’s rights in the juvenile justice system

Connecticut juvenile law defines a “child” as any person under 16 years old and a “youth” as any person who is at least 16 but not yet 18. The juvenile justice system typically serves individuals arrested for offenses allegedly committed before their 16th birthday.

Every citizen of the United States has certain legal rights and protections, and your child is no different. Ensure your child knows their Miranda rights, which are:

  • The right to remain silent
  • The right to a lawyer
  • The right to talk to parents or guardians

If your child is placed into a juvenile detention center, which may occur in cases of serious juvenile offenses or if your child is a danger to themselves or others, they have additional rights, including:

  • The right to phone calls
  • The right to visits with lawyers and parents
  • The right to send and receive mail
  • The right to attend school
  • The right to medical care
  • The right to be safe from harassment and discrimination
  • The right to food, clothing and exercise

Talk to an experienced Hartford juvenile offenses lawyer as soon as possible if your child is facing any type of criminal charges to find out how we can help your family.

The difference between judicial and non-judicial juvenile offenses

After a child is arrested but before their arraignment, the court will review their case to determine how it will be prosecuted. Juvenile cases can be prosecuted either judicially (through the court) or non-judicially (outside of the court). Typically, less serious offenses like truancy or vandalism are classified as non-judicial, taken out of the courtroom and turned over to a Connecticut juvenile probation officer. A probation officer works with your child and family for the rest of the case, ordering an appropriate punishment like counseling, community service, drug testing or delivering academic high grades.

Our attorneys can work closely with probation officers to ensure the process goes smoothly, and advocate for early termination of probation when your child is succeeding and thriving.

Some juvenile crimes are designated serious enough to be prosecuted in court – judicial offenses. These situations include:

  • When the charges are serious or violent in nature
  • When the charges involve sale or possession of certain drugs
  • When the charges involve sale or possession of firearms
  • When the child has a previous record
  • When the child is non-compliant with their probation officer’s recommendations
  • When felony charges are involved

In a judicial case, a judge handles the proceedings and our Hartford defense attorneys will negotiate with prosecution to attempt to reach a resolution before trial. If we can’t get the best outcome before trial, then the defense team from Barry, Taylor & Levesque, LLC goes in fighting zealously for your child’s best interests. When a case is determined to be judicial, it proceeds much like a regular adult court trial, with the exception that the courtroom is closed to the public and the records are sealed.

Professional Hartford juvenile crimes defense lawyers

If your child is facing juvenile criminal charges, talk to the attorneys at Barry, Taylor & Levesque, LLC. We know that you’ve worked hard all your life to teach your child right from wrong. Hearing a law enforcement officer tell you the news your child’s been arrested is heartbreaking and upsetting. Let us help. Our criminal defense lawyers stand with you and your family, and fight the charges against your child, helping leave youthful indiscretions in the past. Call us today. We’re located minutes off I-384 in Manchester. To schedule a consultation with one of our lawyers in Hartford or Manchester, please call 860-649-4400 or fill out our contact form.