{"id":19091,"date":"2024-08-13T11:42:11","date_gmt":"2024-08-13T18:42:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jacksonwhitelaw.com\/criminal-defense-law\/?page_id=19091"},"modified":"2024-09-19T14:34:51","modified_gmt":"2024-09-19T21:34:51","slug":"juvenile-criminal-defense","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.jacksonwhitelaw.com\/criminal-defense-law\/services\/juvenile-criminal-defense\/","title":{"rendered":"Phoenix Juvenile Crimes Lawyer"},"content":{"rendered":"

Criminal Defense for Juveniles<\/h2>\n

While it\u2019s true that juvenile court often carries lighter sentences, juvenile charges and sentences may still have lasting, damaging effects. Many minors are eligible to have their juvenile records expunged when they turn 18, but there are plenty of cases where a criminal record follows a child into adulthood.<\/p>\n

The good news is that the Arizona juvenile court system does a good job at focusing on rehabilitation over punishment, especially when you have an experienced juvenile criminal defense attorney in your corner fighting for the best possible outcome. Our Phoenix juvenile crimes lawyers at JacksonWhite Law have decades of experience defending minors in Phoenix and Arizona as a whole.<\/p>\n

Contact Us<\/a><\/p>\n

Types of Juvenile Crimes<\/h2>\n

Juvenile offenses can vary widely depending on the nature of the crime. A juvenile is anyone between the ages of 8 and 17 in Arizona, and crimes committed by juveniles are treated differently under Arizona law and handled by the juvenile courts according to ARS 8-302<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Because adults possess more rights than juveniles, some crimes are unique to juveniles\u2014 these include drinking alcohol, breaking curfew, and incorrigible acts, also known as a consistent failure to obey the law or authority figures under ARS 8-201<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Incorrigible acts and minor offenses like these are considered delinquent acts instead of juvenile crimes. These offenses are not misdemeanors or felonies, so they carry much lighter dispositions and penalties.<\/p>\n

However, like an adult, a juvenile crime may be charged with a misdemeanor or a felony in harsher crimes. In the most serious or violent crimes, or in the case of multiple felony convictions, a juvenile may be charged as an adult.<\/p>\n

Juvenile Misdemeanor Charges<\/h3>\n

While the general terminology in juvenile court may be different, juveniles can still face misdemeanor charges for violating Arizona Statutes. Some of the most common misdemeanor charges for juveniles include:<\/p>\n