Juvenile

Juvenile Delinquency Law

I offer a free half-hour consultation to discuss the particulars of your case.

Under the Illinois Juvenile Court Act a minor must be represented by an attorney.  If you cannot afford an attorney, a Public Defender will be appointed to represent the minor.  You must complete an affidavit of your income and expenses to qualify for a Public Defender.  It is a difficult standard to meet. 

A minor, for purposes of juvenile court is defined as a person who is under the age of 17 at the time the alleged offense is committed. 

The purpose of the Juvenile Court Act is to help the juvenile, preferably in his or her own home, strengthening the family whenever needed or possible.  The Juvenile Courtroom is a private, closed courtroom.  When you get to the assigned courtroom, you check in with the Deputy Sheriff and are called into court privately.  The only people in the courtroom will be the Judge, and his Clerk, the Deputy, a Court Reporter, Assistant State’s Attorneys and various juvenile probation officers.

If the minor chooses to plead guilty, or is found guilty by the judge, the penalties for juvenile cases range from court supervision; probation, time in the Juvenile Detention Center or going to the Illinois Department of Corrections Juvenile Center. 

Contact me and we will discuss the particulars of your case.

Other areas of law under the Juvenile Court Act are: 

1)   Abused, Neglected, Dependent Minors   
2) Minors Requiring Authoritative Intervention
3)  Addicted Minors.  My practice is most involved with juveniles who are charged under the Delinquency Section of the Act.