If a child under the age of 18 is accused of a crime, the case will begin in juvenile court. Juvenile courts have a number of goals including, but not limited to, rehabilitation of the child, as well as appropriate punishment for, and correction of, the child’s behavior. Juveniles generally do not have the right to a jury trial unless they are tried as adults. The parents of any juvenile accused of a crime should contact an experienced attorney to discuss the case as soon as they are able to do so.

As a general rule, courts tend to be a bit more understanding and lenient with juvenile level offenses when compared to crimes allegedly committed by adults. This is because the courts have rehabilitation of the juvenile as a stated goal when a child is in court and accused of a crime.