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Lawyers serving individuals throughout the Twin Cities Metro Area, including:

Juvenile Offenses

Persons under the age of 18 may be charged with criminal offenses that will be managed by the juvenile court system. If the prosecution alleges that a person committed a serious crime, then a prosecuting attorney may ask the court to try a minor in adult court. In those cases, separate hearings are held by the court to determine the proper forum.

Curbing Repeat Offenses

Juvenile courts use a different approach and language for minors. There is an overall goal to ensure that the minor will not get into trouble in the future. The court will be interested in the child’s grades, school attendance, criminal history and familial support system. It is helpful to present a positive case to the prosecutor and to have family members get involved in creating a plan.

Minors do not plead guilty in juvenile court. Rather, they are either adjudicated delinquent or not. If adjudicated delinquent, a court will impose a sentence and probation which can last throughout a child’s minority.