Archive for the ‘Juvenile Defense Misc’ Category
A couple of Utah teens were sent to the hospital following a bout of reckless driving in the Taylorsville High School parking lot.
Photo: Jason Bain
Truck Rolls Over at School
The teens were in a pickup truck that rolled in the parking lot following what police believe was a race with another vehicle behind the school’s football stadium. Some kids in the back of the truck bailed before the vehicle rolled, but the driver and one passenger were transported to a local hospital with serious injuries.
We could talk to kids about reckless driving until we’re blue in the face and some teens would still choose a good old drag race to playing it safe. However, you can’t dispute the fact that injuries are more likely to occur when teens aren’t driving carefully; for that matter, injuries can occur when any person—regardless of their age—drives recklessly.
Reckless Driving Charge Adds Insult to Injury
It’s reported that the driver will be cited for reckless driving, which is a class B misdemeanor. We don’t know what that will mean in terms of juvenile court, but hopefully this particular teen and his compatriots will have learned a valuable lesson from this experience.
Reckless driving can be charged if a person drives:
• With willful or wanton disregard for the safety of people or property or
• While committing three or moving traffic violations within a distance of three miles or less
As you probably know, juvenile court usually handles kids’ offenses a little differently than district court treats adults. Kids tend to deal with rehabilitation efforts better than a lot of adults, so it’s good to give them a chance to make amends.
Ask a Utah Juvenile Defense Attorney for Legal Advice
There are times, however, when a child needs the additional advice of a lawyer. In those circumstances, it’s a good idea to talk to an experienced Utah juvenile defense attorney.
If your child needed medical attention you’d take them to a doctor, and it’s no different when he needs legal help. Give your child the best assistance you can by contacting a top Utah juvenile defense attorney today.
Tags: attorney, crime, kids, law, minor, offense, reckless driving, School, teens, utah, youth
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Police are on the lookout for a couple of people: one reportedly a kid burglar who allegedly accompanied another person to steal from a Utah home back in December.
Photo: elhombredenegro
Kid Burglar Strikes–But Not Alone
A homeowner contacted police after she arrived home in mid December to find two people in her house. The alleged burglars, one of whom is believed to be a juvenile between 8 and 12, fled the premises with an expensive camera and thousands of dollars worth of jewelry. They are still at large, and the homeowner is offering a reward in conjunction with the capture and conviction of the thieves.
It’s not too often that we see evidence of a kid burglar in Utah, but if he is caught he will likely be charged with committing serious juvenile offenses, including burglary and theft. As we’ve previously noted, juveniles who are accused of offenses are normally handled in juvenile court. Juvenile courts in Utah handle kids’ cases much differently than adults are treated in district courts.
Have an Attorney Represent Your Child
Authorities hope that kids will be more likely to not reoffend if given proper attention and appropriate consequences in relation to their offenses. Even though we hope that juveniles will be treated fairly, it is in a child’s best interest to be represented by a Utah juvenile defense attorney who will fight for the child’s rights.
If you have a child, whether he’s accused of being a kid burglar or another offense, contact an experienced Utah juvenile defense attorney right away. Don’t leave your child’s future to chance. Hire an attorney who will see that your child’s rights are protected, regardless of the charges he’s facing.
Tags: burglar, Burglary, child, crime, juvenile, Juvenile Court, kid, offense, robber, Theft, utah
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A conspiracy involving drug-spiked milkshakes sent two California parents to dreamland while their teenage daughter and a friend had unlimited Internet access.
Photo: jamieanne
Using the Internet Past Curfew
Apparently the girl wanted to use the Internet past her curfew, so in order to facilitate her wishes, she and her friend put prescription sleeping pills in a couple of shakes and gave them to her parents. The girls were arrested and booked on suspicion of conspiracy and purposefully mixing drugs with food, while waiting to find out if they’ll officially be charged with a crime.
What is Conspiracy?
In Utah, conspiracy is an inchoate offense, and you may be guilty of conspiracy when you agree with one or more people to engage in conduct and any one of the “group” commits an overt act to try and further the conspiracy—all along intending that a crime be committed. Except when the offense is a capital felony, a felony against the person, arson, burglary or robbery, a person doesn’t actually have to commit an overt act in order to be charged with criminal conspiracy.
As we’ve noted in the past, the Utah juvenile justice system is designed to assist in rehabilitating juvenile offenders, not to send them to prison or jail for lengthy sentences. It’s important that kids who show remorse be given the chance to try and redeem themselves and make reparations for negative behavior. Given the opportunity, most kids will work to turn their lives around and get back on track.
Hire a Utah Juvenile Defense Attorney
This is why it’s vital that you contact a Utah juvenile defense attorney if you have a child who has been arrested for any offense. Help your child reach his potential and get the best legal outcome possible by having him represented by a top Utah juvenile defense attorney.
Tags: child, conspiracy, crime, detention, drug, Drugs, jail, juvenile, Prison, utah
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A 16-year-old Utah juvenile girl is being questioned following an incident where she allegedly stabbed her mother multiple times.
Photo: Chris Davis
It’s reported that the incident followed an argument between the girl and her mother; the mother apparently received surgery but is expected to recover. It is also believed that the Utah juvenile will be booked into juvenile detention.
Aggravated Assault
It’s possible that the girl will be charged with the offense of aggravated assault. When a person commits assault and uses a dangerous weapon, he can be charged with aggravated assault. If a victim is seriously injured, the charge is usually a second degree felony. Keep in mind, however, that Utah juveniles are usually charged with an offense as opposed to a crime.
While this offense is serious, kids often make mistakes that they wouldn’t make as an adult. When tempers flare, situations can easily get out of hand. Even though this Utah juvenile may have committed an error, it doesn’t mean she can’t be helped.
Let a Utah Juvenile Defense Attorney Help your Child
If your child has been charged with any offense, don’t wait to contact a Utah juvenile defense attorney. When kids are charged with juvenile offenses, they need and deserve to have expert legal representation. Don’t assume that just because they’re kids they’ll automatically be treated fairly.
Make the right decision and call a Utah juvenile defense attorney today. Look for an attorney who has experience in defending juveniles and who is successful. Hiring the right attorney immediately may help your child’s case resolve in the best way possible and may also be the best choice you can make, both for your child and your entire family.
Tags: aggravated assault, Assault, crime, detention, juvenile, offense, utah
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A research brief just published by the Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice examines why the serious crime rates among youth in California have dropped substantially in recent years. Although logic suggests that drug crime rates would fall with the changes in drug laws, the crime rates for violent and property felonies, homicide, and misdemeanors in general also decreased.
Overall, California serious youth crime rates have fallen faster than national rates in the last 40 years.
The researchers were only able to positively correlate the crime decline with two factors: (1) the 2011 change in marijuana law, downgrading low-level possession from a misdemeanor to an infraction; and (2) improvements in the economic well-being of California’s youth. Even these correlations though were moderate. This suggests that policy-makers need to re-think “the often emotional and increasingly unfounded rhetoric now used to characterize young people, violence, and crime.” In particular, California’s drop in youth crime shows “that contrary to conventional notions, more youth and increasing racial and ethnic diversity do not lead to more crime” because California has the most diverse youth population and now has the lowest offense level ever reliably calculated.
For the full brief click: CA_Youth_Crime_2011.
The truth is that many factors influence youth propensity to commit crime and many factors may make legal intervention more or less successful. For those with a child or teen that has already been arrested and is involved in the justice system, contacting an experienced juvenile attorney may make the difference in getting them back on track.
Tags: crime, Felony, high school drugs, juvenile, Juvenile crimes, marijuana, Serious Youth Offender, teen, teenager, teens
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If you are the parent of a Utah juvenile who’s remanded to home detention, you’ll probably have questions about what can and cannot take place during that detention.
Photo: gfpeck
Some Utah juvenile court judges place youth in home detention if they meet certain qualifications. It is possible for a judge to sentence a Utah juvenile to as much as 30 days of home detention.
Here are some answers to questions you may have about your child’s home detention:
Your child is able to go any place where you (the parent) are supervising. However, your child’s judge must approve of any travel out of Utah.
Friends who are good influences are allowed at your home to visit your child, as long as there are only one or two friends at a time and you are supervising the visits.
Some parents may have times that they need to have another adult, such as a relative, supervise their youth on home detention. In those cases, there needs to be appropriate authorization from the case manager or counselor handling the detention.
Kids on home detention may be allowed to drive themselves to work if they have the appropriate license, attitude and behavior. Additionally, they must not have committed certain offenses (discuss this with your child’s case manager).
Even though you may have older, more responsible kids at home, they are not allowed to take the place of parental supervision for any Utah juvenile on home detention. You are expected to supervise your child at all times.
Above All, Make Sure Your Child has the Right Legal Advice
You may have additional questions concerning your child’s situation that cannot be answered simply. If that is the case, contact an experienced Utah juvenile defense attorney as soon as possible. Regardless of the phase your child’s case is in, you can benefit from the advice and assistance a top Utah juvenile defense attorney will provide.
Tags: attorney, case, child, crime, detention, home detention, juvenile, offense, utah
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We previously reported on a United States Supreme Court decision that changed the law for prisoners sentenced as juveniles who weren’t given the chance of parole in their sentence. Now, the California governor has signed a bill that allows inmates sentenced to life without parole in prison as juveniles to ask a judge to reconsider their sentence after they serve at least 15 years in prison.
Photo: s-k-
Law Change for Prisoners with No-Parole Sentence
The change in California law will give prisoners who show remorse and are working towards rehabilitation the opportunity to have their no-parole sentence reduced to 25-years-to-life if a judge agrees. There was opposition to the bill from the state’s law enforcement and victim’s rights agencies, but the bill’s sponsor feels that some people deserve a second chance—particularly when they made bad choices as juveniles.
Kids Keep Growing and Changing as they Mature
Many people realize that kids’ ability to control emotions and impulses grows as they mature. Giving a person who made a serious mistake as a youth another chance may be a good decision. While it’s impossible to know what choices that individual will make in the future, hopefully those people involved in the justice system will be able to identify the inmates with the greatest potential for rehabilitation.
What do you think? We know there are people on both sides of the issue, some who want to lock the door and throw away the key and others who feel people can change. It’s an interesting question, not necessarily easily answered.
Let a Utah Juvenile Defense Attorney Help Your Child
One thing is for certain: if you have a child who’s become involved in the juvenile justice system, don’t wait to contact a Utah juvenile defense attorney. Sometimes there are things that can be done before a child’s case becomes so serious that he is in adult prison—or even juvenile detention. Let an attorney be your child’s advocate with law enforcement and the court. It may make all the difference to you and your child.
Tags: crime, detention, juvenile, law, parole, prisoner, serious offender, utah, youth
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In Utah, there are circumstances in which a parent or legal guardian may be held financially responsible for juvenile property damage.
Photo: 401(K) 2012
Get Out Your Wallet
A parent or legal guardian can be liable for juvenile property damage up to $2000 when:
• The juvenile intentionally damages, defaces, destroys or steals someone’s property
• The juvenile recklessly or willfully shoots or propels some type of missile or other object at or against a motor vehicle, bus, airplane, boat, train/train car—whether the vehicle is moving or stationary
• The juvenile purposefully tampers with someone else’s property, recklessly endangering someone’s life or threatening a public utility service
The cost to a guardian of juvenile property damage goes up to $5000 when:
• One of the above-mentioned offenses occurs due to a juvenile’s association with any criminal street gang
Graffiti Counts as Property Damage
Defacing or tampering with a person’s property includes the application of graffiti.
Encourage Good Behavior
If you’re the type of parent who, with reasonable effort, tried to dissuade your child from causing property damage and you reported any knowledge of the damage to the property owner or police, you might not be held financially responsible after all. That does, however, depend upon the judgment of a juvenile court judge.
Talk to a Utah Juvenile Defense Attorney
We know that lots of good kids make mistakes, which is why it’s important to contact a Utah juvenile defense attorney if your child has any run-ins with the law. Even kids deserve to be treated with respect and have access to the advice of legal counsel, regardless of their prior actions.
Do your child a favor and call a Utah juvenile defense attorney today. It’s not too late to help your son or daughter get back on the right track.
Tags: court, crime, criminal mischief, graffiti, juvenile, liability, minor, property damage, utah, vandalism
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A Utah teen has been charged with first degree felony murder after he allegedly shot his stepfather in the head and the man died as a result of his wounds.
How Can a Juvenile Be Charged as an Adult?
The teen is now facing murder charges in district court. It can be fairly complicated to have a juvenile charged as an adult in Utah. First, the prosecution has to ask the juvenile court for a hearing to consider the request to have the juvenile tried as an adult. Then, a juvenile court judge must agree to turn the case over to district court.
Possible Punishments
When a juvenile is tried as an adult, he is subject to any punishment that would normally only be available to someone 18 years old or older. If a juvenile is found guilty of murder in juvenile court, the maximum sentence he can receive is spending time in detention until he’s 21 (in addition to any other consequences imposed by the court).
Juvenile Court or District Court?
Whether or not it’s right to try a juvenile as an adult is a difficult question, with people on both sides of the discussion. Some people believe that treating a child as an adult may increase the chances of that child continuing a life of crime, while others may think that certain crimes deserve strong punishments regardless of the person’s age.
If you have a child involved in the criminal justice system, it’s vital that you discuss his case with a Utah juvenile defense attorney. Some kids are particularly troubled, while others just make mistakes that need gentle correction. Don’t leave your child’s future to chance. Contact a Utah juvenile defense attorney today and help your child get back on the right track.
Tags: adult, gun, juvenile, Juvenile Court, Murder
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A teen vandal, who police believe is responsible for an extensive vandalism spree in the West Jordan area of Utah, has been arrested.
Photo: chorley.paul
What Happened?
The young man has allegedly been busily slashing vehicle tires, breaking into vehicles and setting dumpsters on fire at a local middle school—all since Labor Day weekend. Police stated that they don’t yet have any motives for the teen vandal since he’s not saying much to them.
Arson and vandalism are both serious crimes, particularly considering that the teen vandal allegedly slashed over 100 tires alone. He’s lucky the fires in the dumpster didn’t spread, too.
Good Reasons to Hire a Utah Juvenile Defense Attorney
Even though it’s better not to commit crimes, it is important that anyone charged with a crime consult with a defense attorney immediately—even juveniles. There’s never any guarantee that a person accused of a crime will be let off with a “slap on the wrist,” which is why you want to have the advice and representation of an attorney who is well-versed and experienced in handling criminal defense cases.
Keep in mind that all people need and deserve the best legal support they can find, and kids are no exception. In the case of this teen vandal, there may be more involved than just a kid making some mistakes. Teenagers can be pretty complex individuals, so it’s worth finding out what’s going on inside that is sending them down a potentially dangerous path.
If your child is involved in any criminal activities or proceedings, don’t wait to call a Utah juvenile defense attorney. You and your child will benefit from the expertise of an attorney who is used to helping juveniles work their way through legal proceedings. Make that important phone call today.
Tags: attorney, court, crime, juvenile, Juvenile Court, teen, utah, vandal, vandalism
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