What happens if a juvenile steals

Child Criminal Safety Issues. Juvenile Offenses. Theft Offenses. Kids and Theft Offenses In California, juvenile offenders under the age of 18 are treated differently than adults who commit crimes. Grand Theft vs. Petty Theft in Juvenile Cases In California, the majority of the cases that are heard in juvenile delinquency court involve property-related crimes. Theft offenses in Juvenile Court Theft offenses proceed differently when the offender is under the age of Presented by Michael E.

Home Disclaimer Privacy Policy. Justia Law Firm Website Design. It implies that something of a relatively small value was stolen from either a store or from someone's personal possession, like their house, car, bag, etc. Juveniles are known to make mistakes, be incapable of fully understanding the gravity of and consequences associated with their actions, and they are also far more likely to be rehabilitated and corrected than their adult counterparts.

Petit theft is the third most common juvenile crime in the state of Florida. The Broward County juvenile criminal defense lawyers at The Ansara Law Firm understand that kids make mistakes and law enforcement is quick to catch them in their mistakes. The court wants to make sure they these juvenile do not repeatedly offend, and no parent wants to see their kid go to jail.

There are other ways to teach them a lesson, and we fight vehemently to ensure that juvenile clients walk away from the experience with as few legal consequences as possible so that their lives are not impeded by the heavy hammer of the law. Juvenile petit theft ranges in severity based on the assessed monetary value of the stolen property.

If a juvenile court judge finds probable cause that a juvenile who is 13 or older committed a Class A felony, such as first-degree murder, the judge must transfer the case to adult criminal court without a transfer hearing.

Additionally, a or year-old, who is alleged to have committed a Class A, B1, B2, C, D, E, F, or G felony, must be transferred to adult criminal court without a transfer hearing, if either of the following occurs: 1 a juvenile court judge finds probable cause for the offense; or 2 a prosecutor obtains an indictment.

An adjudication of delinquency in juvenile court is not a conviction of a crime nor does it cause the juvenile to forfeit any citizenship rights. Also, unlike a criminal conviction, an adjudication of delinquency is not a public record.

All juveniles have the right to be represented by an attorney in juvenile court proceedings, whether alleged to be undisciplined or delinquent. However, only juveniles who are alleged to be delinquent are entitled to a court-appointed attorney paid for by the State.

Parents also may choose to hire a private attorney to represent their child in juvenile court. The attorney will explain the court process and options to the juvenile. The attorney will assist the juvenile in deciding how to handle the case, but the juvenile must decide whether to admit responsibility, request a hearing, or testify at a hearing. For this reason, attorneys generally meet with juvenile clients without a parent or guardian present. The court also may order a parent or guardian to obtain a mental health or substance abuse evaluation and comply with any recommended treatment.

A parent or guardian may be held in contempt of court for not complying with orders of the court. All juvenile court hearings are open to the public. If a judge closes the courtroom to the public, the judge may allow any victim, family members of a victim, law enforcement officers, witnesses, and others who are directly involved in the case to remain in the courtroom.

Juvenile court hearings are open to the public, but the records of these proceedings are confidential. Public disclosure of juvenile records is prohibited without a court order. Some of the most commonly used juvenile court terms are defined below:. A major goal of family court is to consolidate and assign a family's legal issues before a single district court judge or team of judges.

Parent education programs also may be available. Together, the dedicated family court judges and staff implement policies that promote prompt and just resolution of family law issues. Learn more. A juvenile complaint must be filed with a juvenile court counselor in the county where the alleged delinquent or undisciplined act occurred. Any person can submit a complaint to a juvenile court counselor.

County specific contact information for juvenile justice officials within the N. Department of Public Safety is available here. When a complaint is received, a juvenile court counselor must complete an intake evaluation to review the complaint and determine whether to file a juvenile petition or resolve the matter without referring the juvenile to court. At the conclusion of the intake evaluation, which must be completed within 30 days, the counselor has three options: 1 file a juvenile petition to initiate court action, 2 offer the juvenile a diversion, or 3 close the complaint without further action.

A diversion is an alternative to court that involves a direct referral of the juvenile to a community based program or service for up to six months. Examples of common diversion programs include community service or restitution programs, victim-offender mediation, counseling, and teen court.

If a juvenile successfully completes a diversion, the complaint will be closed without further action. If the juvenile does not comply with a diversion, the juvenile court counselor may file a petition and refer the matter to court. Nondivertible offenses include murder, first-degree and second-degree rape, first-degree and second-degree sexual offense, arson, felony drug offenses, first-degree burglary, crime against nature, and any felony that results in serious bodily injury to another person or was committed by use of a deadly weapon.

The exact procedures in a particular case will vary depending on factors, such as whether the juvenile is alleged to be delinquent or undisciplined, whether the juvenile is in secure or nonsecure custody, and whether the juvenile is charged with a felony or misdemeanor, if alleged to be delinquent. Juveniles with questions about how their cases will proceed should consult with their attorneys for advice.

The court will hear evidence presented by the parties to determine whether the facts alleged in the petition are true. Probation terms require the juvenile to take specific actions, such as to stay in school, obey the reasonable orders of parents, guardians, and school officials, and regularly report to a probation officer during the probation period.

If the juvenile doesn't comply, the court can impose a more significant penalty. A deferment is similar to probation, though it is less formal.

Through a diversion program, a prosecutor agrees to allow a juvenile to enter into a diversion program that has similar terms to probation.

The juvenile may, for example, have to participate in an education program, perform community service, maintain a specific grade-point average, or meet other requirements. Diversion programs are typically only available to first-time offenders and allow them a chance to avoid a more formal juvenile court proceeding. A court can order counseling where appropriate. Juvenile counseling may be provided through state services, or the court may order the parents or guardians to find an appropriate individual or family counselor.

Confinement or p lacement. In serious shoplifting cases, or where the juvenile is a repeat offender, the court may order a juvenile to a juvenile detention facility, weekend detention program, or boot-camp style program. If the court finds that the juvenile's home environment is dangerous or contributing to the juvenile's delinquency, it can also order the juvenile into a foster home or other state facility that cares for neglected or needy children.

Talk to a Lawyer Juvenile shoplifting is not an insignificant charge.