South Jersey Juvenile Crimes Lawyer

We strongly recommend that you hire a criminal defense attorney to represent your child in any juvenile matter, no matter how seemingly slight. Many parents make the mistake of not hiring an attorney when the court notice they receive states that an attorney is not required; such as a notice for a Juvenile Conference Committee hearing or a Counsel Non-mandatory hearing before a Juvenile Hearing Officer. These proceedings can result in a juvenile record. There is also a common misconception that juvenile proceedings are dismissed and expunged when the juvenile turns 18 years of age. That is absolutely not the case. The advice of a criminal defense attorney skilled in juvenile matters should be sought upon your child's first contact with law enforcement or court personnel.

Some of the most common types of juvenile offenses are

• Possession or distribution of drugs, especially small amounts of marijuana
• Burglary, theft, shoplifting
• Possession of weapons
• Sexual assault
• Underage drinking

In addition to the work we normally do in an adult criminal case, we spend a great deal of time speaking with children and their parents about how the child can avoid future contact with the law. With over 25 years of experience representing juveniles John Zarych has good insight into the most common patterns of juvenile criminal involvement.

The major cause of juvenile crime is not the child's desire to commit crime, but association with other children who are inclined to get into trouble. We often see children with a great deal of talent and intelligence get charged with offenses. Many of these children come from loving homes and have no reason to get into trouble. They associate with other children who are inclined to commit crimes because they seek excitement and challenge that they have not found in legitimate ways. They soon find that the consequences of seeking excitement through problem friends are quite severe.

However, we find that once a child and his parents understand this pattern, and structure legal and healthy outlets for the child's energy, the child will most often engage in a quick turnaround. Although the parents may be very knowledgeable in these matters, it is particularly difficult for the child to accept the parents' insight into his or her situation, especially in the 15 to 17 year old age group. Although other professionals are certainly capable of providing the child with proper insight, we do not pass on the opportunity to do so.

Free initial consultation: Contact an experienced New Jersey juvenile defense lawyer about your case. Lawyers are available seven days a week, 24 hours a day, including holidays.