SAN DIEGO JUVENILE Attorney
I am San Diego juvenile lawyer Peter M. Liss, and I can help you. I have defended hundreds of juveniles (minors under 18) who have been arrested and charged with criminal offenses. Some of the most commonly charged juvenile crimes include:
- DUI (Including DUI with accident and drug DUIs)
- Drug crimes (Including drug sales and possession)
- Driving offenses (Including reckless driving, hit and run and driving without a license)
- Gang crimes (including drive-by shootings and carjacking)
- Property destruction (including arson and vandalism)
- Sex crimes (including sexual assault, child molestation and child pornography)
- Status offenses (including alcohol possession, marijuana possession and truancy)
- Theft (including shoplifting, burglary, robbery and joyriding)
- Violent crimes (including assault, battery and weapons charges)
Parents and grandparents often retain me to represent a dependent charged with committing a crime in San Diego County. If you need a juvenile defense attorney near you, please call me today for a free consultation at my Vista law office or my more centrally-located office in Carmel Valley. You will receive top representation for a reasonable fee.
About the Juvenile Criminal Justice System in CA
Criminal charges against minors are drastically different from those against adults. For example, there is no bail in juvenile courts, although children may be released to their parents in many cases. Additionally, minors do not have the right to trial by jury but instead will be convicted and sentenced exclusively by the judge hearing the case.
Minors do have the right to a lawyer, and you should always work with someone experienced in handling juvenile cases. Hiring a top San Diego juvenile defense attorney is one of the most important things you can do to help your child after their arrest.
How the Juvenile Legal System Works
Minors are tried in the California juvenile court system. The police may pick up juveniles either for “juvenile delinquency” (committing a crime) or a “status offense” (age-related offenses such as truancy or minor in possession charges). Only those over 12 can face criminal charges, except in cases involving rape or murder. While there are many courthouses in San Diego County, the only juvenile court in this jurisdiction is next to the juvenile detention facility near the interchange between the 805 and 163 highways.
The Juvenile court system has five steps: 1) the filing of the petition, 2) intake, 3) the transfer hearing (if applicable), 4) adjudication, and 5) the disposition hearing
Filing of the Petition
The filing of the petition is simply the juvenile equivalent of filing charges against an adult offender. The petition may request that the juvenile be charged in adult or juvenile court.
Intake
The intake process starts when the court receives the petition from the District Attorney. The court will ask the probation department to prepare an initial report on the defendant. In juvenile court, the warrant process is usually limited to juveniles who violate probation or miss their court appearance.
Most minors are not detained in Juvenile Hall but released to their parents pending the filing of charges. Some minors are detained immediately because they don’t have a stable residence or have been accused of a more serious offense. Others are arrested later once the investigation is complete.
At the time of arrest, an intake officer (a juvenile probation officer) provides a summary of the police report, the juvenile’s school, and criminal record and parents’ comments on how the child is doing.
Within 48 hours of the time a minor has been arrested (excluding non-court days), the court must hold a detention hearing (the juvenile court equivalent of an arraignment) to review the probation officer’s recommendations. If this hearing does not occur within 48 hours, the minor must be released into the custody of his parents.
Juveniles cannot post bail when brought in for a detention hearing. Instead, the judge will decide whether she will be released to her parent’s custody or kept in the juvenile detention facility. Before the detention hearing, the probation department will prepare a report making recommendations to the judge regarding whether to release or detain a minor. Judges ultimately have the final say in the matter, and their opinion will be based on both the defendant and the crime in question.
Your San Diego juvenile defense lawyer can play an important role in helping your teen be released from custody and it’s best to start working on this process as soon as possible. Just being detained can have a devastating impact on a young person’s mental state.
Minors are usually detained in one of two locations, the Youth Transition Campus —next to the Juvenile Court, or the East Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility, near the Mexican border. Unlike adult prisoners, they will not be detained in a county jail.
Transfer Hearing
If a child over 16 commits a grave offense, such as rape, murder, arson or kidnapping, the court will hold a “transfer hearing” to decide whether they should try the child in the adult criminal court system. In most of these cases, your juvenile justice lawyer will work to ensure the case is held in juvenile courts as sentencing generally is not as severe for minors. Keeping the matter out of adult court is particularly beneficial for those charged with sex crimes, as a teen who receives probation for a sex crime will not be required to register as a sex offender.
Adjudication
The adjudication process is the resolution of the defendant’s case. It can involve a plea bargain, like adult offenders might make with a prosecutor, or it could mean a hearing with a judge. Juveniles do not receive jury trials, and the judge will determine their guilt, but they can still defend themselves against the charges with a skilled juvenile crimes lawyer.
Disposition Hearing
If the judge decides a minor is guilty of a crime, he will schedule a disposition hearing, which is like a sentencing hearing in the adult courts. At this hearing, the prosecution and criminal defense attorneys will present arguments regarding what they believe would be the most appropriate sentence for the juvenile. The ultimate goal of the juvenile justice system is to rehabilitate minors, not punish them, and the judge will consider what she believes is the most appropriate way to teach the teen a lesson and remedy any wrongs incurred by the victim.
A juvenile defense lawyer can begin helping your child at any stage during this process. Still, it is typically best to obtain legal counsel as soon as possible to help protect your child’s rights.
What Rights Do Juvenile Offenders Have?
Minors Can be Questioned Without Their Parents
While many people think police officers need the permission of a parent before questioning a minor, that is not the case in California. Police can visit a school and question a minor without a parent’s permission, but like an adult, the juvenile has the right to refuse to talk to the officers.
Juveniles Have the Right to an Attorney
If a juvenile is 15 years old or younger, the police must provide a lawyer to consult with the juvenile before questioning. The lawyer will typically advise the teen to invoke the right to remain silent and not talk to the police. When the police question a teen over 16, he should ideally only answer questions related to his identity and request to speak with a lawyer.
Rights of Teens Who Have Been Detained
When detained, a minor has the right to call her parents and a lawyer. Parents are often left alone in the interrogation room with their child, but few people are aware that while in these rooms, their conversations may be recorded and used as evidence. When in an interrogation room with your child, avoid discussing the crime without a lawyer present or until your child is released.
Search and Seizure of Minor’s Possessions
Minors should also decline a search of their possessions. Outside of a school setting, police must have probable cause or consent to search a minor’s personal property, such as a backpack or his pockets.
On school grounds, things can be a little more confusing. School officials and police officers can search a minor’s locker, pockets or backpack if they have reasonable suspicion of criminal activity. It is important to note that while this is a lesser standard of proof than probable cause, it still requires a reasonable suspicion that the student has violated a school rule or law, so random locker searches are not permitted.
Should a teacher, principal, police officer or other authority figures aside from a legal guardian searches a minor’s possessions without reasonable suspicion or the juvenile’s permission, the search could violate the child’s rights, and any resulting evidence may be withheld from the adjudication hearing.
Sentences for Juvenile Offenders
The penalties for juvenile offenses are primarily the same as those adults may face, but the juvenile court system is oriented towards rehabilitation rather than punishment. Juveniles are just as likely as adults to be sentenced to the maximum sentence, meaning even a misdemeanor crime can result in up to a year of confinement in a juvenile detention facility. Teens are sometimes also subjected to specialized penalties, including the loss of driving privileges or the delayed ability to obtain a driver’s license for crimes such as driving under the influence or possessing alcohol.
Maximum Penalties for Juvenile Offenders
The potential penalties can be severe depending on the charges in question; a child under age 16 can be incarcerated until age 21, and a child over 16 until age 25. Minors charged as adults can face the same penalties as adults, including life sentences, though they cannot be sentenced to death. It’s worth adding that if someone over 16 is tried in adult court, they will still be held in a juvenile facility until they turn 18.
Diversion Programs Allow for a Clean Criminal Record
The upside is that many minors are eligible for diversion programs that may rely on alternative sentences such as counseling, outreach programs, community service, “scared straight” programs and house arrest.
The most significant benefit of a diversion program is that upon completion, the charge will not show up on a person’s criminal record. Avoiding a conviction on a teen’s record is very beneficial for offenders just starting out their lives, particularly since many financial aid programs are unavailable to those with certain criminal offenses on their record.
Your Juvenile Attorney Matters
With all of this in mind, it is easy to see how important it is to obtain a skilled juvenile court lawyer as soon as possible to obtain the best results under the particular facts and law of the child’s case.
Juvenile Record Sealing
Juvenile court determinations are not convictions but are called a “true finding.” A true finding and record of the detention and arrest can be sealed upon juvenile probation or diversion program completion. You do not need a lawyer to file a motion to seal these cases.
When A Juvenile Court Attorney is Required to Seal Records
If a juvenile is not sentenced to probation or fails to complete probation or the terms of a diversion program, the teen’s record can be sealed at 18. This process is not automatic and does require a motion to be filed. There are some limited circumstances where a record cannot be sealed, including cases where the minor was convicted of a violent crime or some sex offenses.
What Does it Mean to Have a Record Sealed?
Sealing the record means the conviction will not appear on background checks and cannot be used against the individual when seeking employment or housing. There are only limited circumstances where a sealed record can be viewed, and eventually, the physical records will be destroyed.
Your Teen’s Best Defense
Top San Diego Juvenile Attorney
I have over 35 years of experience in law and have handled cases in a wide range of practice areas ranging from shoplifting to murder. I am highly experienced in my field and have successfully defended hundreds of juveniles.
The Experience You Need
My degree comes from the top-rated University of California, Berkeley Law School. I guarantee all clients will receive top-quality representation at reasonable rates, and I accept all major credit cards.
There When You Need Me
Thanks to my 24-hour a day live-answering service, I promise that all calls will be answered no matter what time you call because I know when you have a criminal defense emergency, you want to talk to someone immediately. When you contact my law office, you will receive a prompt response so you have the support you need throughout your case.
Two Convenient Locations
My two defense attorney offices offer free parking and are located in Vista and San Diego, conveniently just off the 78 highway, and the 5 freeway near the 805 merge, respectively.
Dedicated, Personalized Service
I promise to personally handle your entire case and not hand off your criminal defense to a lower associate in my office.
Was Your Child Arrested?
Here’s What You Should Do
If your child was arrested, how you react in the upcoming days can dramatically impact your child’s future. Act as soon as possible to protect their rights and freedoms.
Stay Calm and Be Comforting
You might be angry at your teen, the person who accused them of a crime, or the police officer who arrested them. While that feeling is entirely understandable, it won’t help your child. When you’re at home together, let your child explain their side of events and tell them you want to help.
Listen closely —a key piece of information could help you fight the charges. For example, if school officials randomly searched your child’s locker without reasonable suspicion, this evidence may be withheld from the trial.
Collect Helpful Documents
Tracking down report cards, reference letters, and proof of positive achievements by your child can strengthen your child’s case by showing that they are a good student and responsible citizen. Give these items to your lawyer. Let your San Diego juvenile attorney know if your teen has a learning disability or mental illness that may affect their behavior as this could aid their defense.
Seek Out Support
Get your child into counseling or rehabilitation for drug issues, if applicable. Work with your attorney to repair property your child damaged if they were accused of vandalism. Taking action preemptively will help the court see your teen wants to make things right.
Help Them Stay Out of Trouble
Try to get your teen back to school as soon as possible and encourage them to keep their grades up. These small actions can help sway judges. Alternatively, if your child is truant for long periods after the arrest, it could hurt them in court.
How I Can Help You
As Your San Diego Juvenile Lawyer
I am dedicated to my clients, juvenile and adult alike. As your attorney, I will help you in many ways, starting by keeping you updated on the status of the case and advising you on what to do as things progress.
Helping Your Family
When you hire me, I will immediately start working to help your teen. If they have been placed in custody, I will work to have them released into your custody. I will work with you to develop the most robust possible defense and to collect evidence to support this defense, including interviewing witnesses and police.
Working in the Courts
I will always fight to keep a minor’s case out of the adult court system and seek to have the charges reduced whenever possible. Throughout the court process, I will file motions that may help your teen, including suppressing evidence from illegal searches and excluding improper testimony.
Throughout the court process, I will typically work to negotiate a winning plea bargain before the matter goes to adjudication (trial in juvenile court). When this doesn’t work out, I will fight to present the best defense for your child at the adjudication or in the trial if they are tried as adults.
Minimizing the Damage
Whenever possible, I will seek an alternative sentence that will allow your teen to stay out of confinement and keep the charges off their record. Alternative sentences (available in some cases) can include probation, restitution, assignment to community service, placement in a halfway house or foster care, or placement in a training school. I will attempt to secure the lowest possible sentence for teens who must be sentenced.
Call My Offices Today
If you are a parent or grandparent of a child who has been arrested, please call today to schedule a free consultation. Your child’s future could be at stake; please call.
Learn More About the Law
Common Juvenile Offenses
Aside from the crimes mentioned in the rest of this article, teens are often charged with the following:
- Making prank phone calls
- Bullying
- Driving while hungover
- Stealing a bike
- Tampering with a vehicle
- Throwing things at a car
More Resources to Help
I aim to help those who find themselves (or their children) in legal trouble. To help the public, I maintain a blog that features an array of practical information about California laws, Supreme Court decisions, and the rights of the accused. I also have guides on how to hire a criminal defense lawyer and red flags to watch out for when hiring an attorney.
How to Contact Attorney Peter Liss
For skilled, IMMEDIATE help with non-violent crime defense, including fraud, embezzlement, forgery and related offenses in Vista or San Diego, call lawyer Peter M. Liss:
Call 24/7, any time, any day. I can help you.