During a typical juvenile court Advisory Hearing, the juvenile learns of the charges against him/her. The juvenile is also informed that they can retain a private attorney, or the court will provide them with a public defender. In addition, the juvenile must also enter a plea of “not guilty” or “guilty” (admission or denial) during this hearing. If a plea of “not guilty” (denial) is entered, an Adjudication Hearing date is set within 45-60 days. If the juvenile enters a plea of “guilty,” (admission) a Deposition Hearing date is set. Deposition hearings can take place immediately after the juvenile pleads “guilty.”
Sometimes an Advisory Hearing can overwhelm or confuse a juvenile and their family, especially if this is the first time that the juvenile has been charged with a crime. Enlisting the assistance of an AZ criminal defense attorney specializing in juvenile crimes can help to ease any anxiety that might arise from an advisory hearing.
To learn more about the benefits of hiring an AZ juvenile criminal defense attorney, contact Jeremy Geigle at (480) 818-9943. Jeremy has defended numerous Juveniles in court, and can help assess your particular situation during a free consultation.