Until an individual turns 18 years of age in New Jersey, they are considered a child in the eyes of the law. If a minor breaks the law, most times, they are charged as one. However, some of the most serious crimes can result in a minor being waived up to adult court, which may have a significant impact on the rest of his or her life. If your child has been charged with committing a juvenile offense in the state of New Jersey, it is crucial to obtain the best possible defense to help protect his or her uncertain future. Contact a Bergen County juvenile offense attorney from The Law Office of Attorney Conway today for quality legal representation that is committed to keeping your child’s best interest in mind.
As mentioned, children who break the law before they turn 18 will usually be treated as a juvenile in court. It is important to note that this is true even if the child’s eighteenth birthday happens at some point before the case has been resolved. New Jersey handles juvenile offenses in the family division of the Superior Court and the case is heard by the Juvenile Conference Committee. Instead of having a judge and a jury hear the case, the Juvenile Conference Committee is comprised of court-appointed volunteers. In situations where a juvenile has committed a very serious crime, parents must be aware that there is a chance the child gets waived up to criminal court where they will be treated as an adult. This is often the case with violent crimes such as assault, rape, murder, etc. It is critical to retain the services of a Bergen County juvenile offense attorney that can fight on behalf of your child to have their case heard in the family division of the Superior Court.
The state of New Jersey requires that any child charged with a juvenile offense has legal representation paid for by their parent or guardian. Juveniles, unlike adults, are not allowed to represent themselves in court. Often, parents are concerned that they cannot afford to hire a criminal defense attorney to represent their child. If this is the case, the parent has the opportunity to request a public defender but the state has a very high threshold and rarely approves this request. If there is any reason to believe that a parent can afford an attorney, the state will require them to do so. At The Law Office of Attorney Conway, we have decades of experience fighting on behalf of juveniles who are facing an uncertain future.
When a parent learns that their child has been arrested, they are often worried about what the future holds. These cases need to be handled by a Bergen County juvenile offense attorney who will put your child first. The Law Office of Attorney Conway has the skill, experience, and tenacity it takes to fight to protect your child. If your child’s offense has been waived up to adult criminal court, we are committed to trying all means to reverse the waiver. Contact The Law Office of Attorney Conway for strong criminal defense.
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