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Juvenile Crimes Defense Attorney
In Las Vegas, NevadaRecognized By:
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Ross C. Goodman is a Las Vegas native who served as a Major in the U.S. Marine Corps. In 2001, Ross started a boutique criminal defense practice following his father Oscar B. Goodman who was a nationally acclaimed criminal defense attorney.
Learn MoreJuvenile Crimes Defense Information
uvenile Crimes Defense Attorney : INTRODUCTION
Las Vegas has to deal with a large variety of crimes committed in the city every day. Law enforcement officials have to deal with everything from petty shoplifting to illegal drug distribution and every other criminal case in between. Sadly, many of these situations involve juveniles. Many of these youth offenders are booked for petty theft, illegal drug use, and in some cases, possession of unregistered firearms.
Juvenile crimes are a special category of offenses, set apart from traditional crimes committed by full-fledged adults. It can be difficult for a defendant and their family to navigate the system because of how different it operates from regular courts. However, with the help of a veteran juvenile crimes lawyer, the defendant can effectively a severe conviction.
How the Nevada Juvenile Justice System Operates
As stated earlier, juvenile crimes are processed differently compared to crimes committed by adult offenders. In general, the Nevada juvenile courts handle charges involving defendants under 21, individuals who have committed offenses before their 18th birthday, and juvenile sex offenders. This is stipulated in Chapter 62 of the Nevada Revised Statutes.
Juvenile courts do not use the same rules that regular courts use in their proceedings. Offenses heard in juvenile courts are not considered ‘crimes’ per se. Finally, juvenile courts do not use the jury trial system, as that system requires that the defendant’s peers are all legally 18 and above.
Generally, consequences of being ‘convicted’ in Nevada juvenile courts include increased guidance at home. Offenders are also required to attend correctional programs or provide community service. The aim is to both discourage them from committing similar acts in the future, as well as to reduce the workload handled by the court itself while leaving the responsibility of extended guidance to the parents themselves.
However, this does not mean that the juvenile court will not hand out punitive judgement for more serious juvenile offenses. In serious cases, a juvenile maybe detained in a juvenile detention facility for an extended period of time. Worse, a juvenile offender in Las Vegas may be tried as an adult if they are accused of committing severe crimes that constitute misdemeanors or felonies in regular courts.
Juvenile Offenders Dealing with Adult Crimes
Nevada’s juvenile court regularly deals with juvenile offenders who are accused of committing adult crimes. Two cases where this is applicable involve
- Defendants aged 13 and above can be charged for murder or attempted murder
- Defendants aged 14 and above can stand in court for most other felony charges
- Cetification for elevation to an adult court is presumptive when the alleged crime involves sexual offenses, category A or B felony complaints, or firearms-related charges.
- Certification for elevation to an adult court is almost always assured when the case involves murder/attempted murder or any other felony that results in death or severe bodily harm.
- Certification for elevation to an adult court is possible for minor offenses if the prosecution can convince the juvenile court that such a move is necessary.
Penalties for Juvenile Crimes
In general, juvenile crimes have penalties involving a brief period of incarceration in juvenile detention facilities, some fines, attendance in a youth correctional program, and at-home supervision from parents and certified professionals. For adult crimes, however, juveniles can be penalized the same way as adult offenders. For more information on their penalties, please check the respective crime sections elsewhere on this site.
In detail, a juvenile convicted in juvenile court may deal with:
- home custody under a competent guardian or parent
- enrollment in a youth program
- suspension of driver’s license for a maximum of 90 days (if applicable)
- fines
- medical, psychological, or counseling care
- extended juvenile detention for more serious juvenile crimes that don’t merit adult court hearings
Dealing with Juvenile Crimes with Goodman Criminal Defense Attorney
Juvenile crimes in Las Vegas are a varied lot, ranging from minor cases that can be handled with basic assistance to severe incidents that require a veteran criminal defense attorney to navigate through. That’s why you cannot take these charges lightly. If you are a juvenile or a parent of a juvenile who is facing a possible juvenile conviction in Las Vegas, you will need the veteran defense skills of Goodman Criminal Defense Attorney to assist you.
Goodman Criminal Defense Attorney has been providing criminal defense services in Las Vegas for years. He has successfully represented a variety of clients for various offenses, including DUI, domestic violence, drug crimes and violent crimes. He boasts multiple acquittals and dismissals, as well as reduced sentences for several severe charges. You can rest assured that your Las Vegas juvenile crime case is well-handled by a reliable and trusted defense lawyer.
Get in touch with Goodman Criminal Defense Attorney today and let him assist you with your Las Vegas juvenile crime charge.
A large portion of the Las Vegas population is composed of youths and minors. While the majority of these young individuals are law-abiding citizens contributing to the development of the city, there are still bad apples who fall in with bad company and commit a variety of crimes. Juvenile offenders are handled differently from adult defendants, with most penalties involving spending time in youth correctional facilities and going through seminars. However, if they continue to commit these offenses, they are at risk of being treated as adult defendants with the risk of facing the full penalties for their crimes.
Protecting a minor from a bleak future involves the help of a veteran Las Vegas defense attorney. Goodman Criminal Defense Attorney handles juvenile charges in Las Vegas with aplomb, thanks to his experience with similar cases through his two decades of service as a defense attorney. You can be assured that you can get an acquittal or a reduced sentence with your juvenile charge through his help.
As a Full-Service AV-Rated Law Firm,
Attorney Ross Goodman will approach your case with the same commitment and attention to detail that puts you in the best possible position to win!
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