Juvenile Criminal Process

Solano County Juvenile Defense Attorneys

Many adults retell the feelings of when they are arrested and state that the fear and intimidation they experienced made them feel like a helpless child. Imagine a child enduring that same fear and intimidation. Just as they have begun learning about the world and appreciating the freedom around them, their future is suddenly put in jeopardy when they are arrested. In the juvenile criminal justice system, this is an experience for hundreds of minors in Solano County every year.

The Solano County criminal defense lawyers at Maas and Russo can ensure that your child gets the experienced and aggressive representation he or she needs through the entire juvenile criminal process. We help clients facing juvenile crime cases throughout Solano County and Napa County, California.

The Juvenile Criminal Process

• After a minor is arrested for a juvenile crime, his or her first court appearance will be a detention hearing. At the detention hearing a juvenile judge will make a determination as to whether to continue to hold the juvenile in custody. The minor’s attorney will also enter a plea either admitting or denying the offense.
• If a minor was not taken into custody, his or her first court date will be an arraignment. At this time, your attorney can enter a plea and also set a pretrial date and court date.
• A pretrial date is set so both the prosecution and defense lawyer can discuss a possible resolution to the case before it actually goes to trial. Any outstanding issues may be discussed at the time.
• The juvenile court trial, also referred to as adjudication, is the most important step in the criminal process. The setting is similar to a typical trial in state court, except that there is no jury. A minor is not entitled to a jury trial in juvenile court. Juvenile trials are overseen and a verdict is reached by a juvenile judge or commissioner. However, your child has the right to an unbiased judge in order to reach a fair resolution to his or her case. An experienced juvenile defense lawyer will know which judges are best to work with.
• Even after a trial has been concluded and if your child was found guilty, a lawyer can help file an appeal. A successful juvenile appeal may result in a lesser sentence or possibly a new trial.

Vallejo, California Juvenile Attorneys

The ability of your defense attorney through the juvenile criminal process will make all the difference in the outcome of your case. Your child may be tried as an adult or may face serious penalties if he or she is not effectively represented in juvenile court. At Maas and Russo, our lawyers are dedicated to providing our clients with the highest quality legal representation. We achieve this through our knowledge, experience and dedication in every step of the Solano County juvenile criminal process.