Juvenile Criminal Punishment

It used to be that when a child did something wrong, got in trouble and went through the juvenile court process, the focus was on rehabilitation.

Back then, few of the consequences of a juvenile conviction would follow the child into adulthood. These days, the juvenile justice system is focused on punishment, stigmatization, and in some cases, removal from society.

Unfortunately, many consequences of a juvenile court conviction will follow your child for the rest of his or her life. A single mistake can lead to juvenile criminal punishment that can affect your child emotionally and legally with very few chances at resuming a normal life in society.

Legal Consequences Of Juvenile Convictions

Along with the possibility of confinement in California’s abysmal Department of Juvenile Justice centers (juvenile prison), a conviction can cause lasting consequences such as:

• Establishing strike priors
• Gang membership verification
• Sex offender registration

These are consequences that could follow a child into adulthood, making it difficult to get a job, obtain a professional license, join the military, or qualify for college financial assistance.

Juvenile Legal Defense

Many lawyers who practice criminal defense primarily in adult court find juvenile court to be mystifying and confusing. As a result, an inexperienced juvenile defense attorney can easily hurt your child’s chances of a successful defense.

If your child has been charged with a crime it is of paramount importance to act quickly before the petition is filed. Waiting too long can, in some cases, make matters significantly worse for your child’s case.

At Quinnan law, we handle juvenile matters ranging from simple assault and petty theft to rape and vehicular manslaughter. Thanks to our zealous advocacy, many of our juvenile clients have grown up to become happy adults, free from the potential consequences of a criminal conviction. Please contact us today to discuss your child’s case and how we can help.