Juvenile Matters

What happens in juvenile court, stays in juvenile court.  That’s what a lot of people think, but it isn’t always true.  The military, law enforcement, bar examiners and judges, for example, can access juvenile records and consider any findings of delinquency.  Serving supervised probation – even as a juvenile – could impact your child’s eligibility for a pre-trial intervention first time offender’s program.  And, contrary to a popular misconception, juvenile proceedings are not dismissed or expunged when the juvenile turns 18.

Children who offend are often good kids who get into trouble because of negative peer influence.  The best result usually involves addressing the underlying causes and influences to best insure the child won’t reoffend.

Common juvenile offenses include:

  • Larceny/theft
  • Curfew and loitering
  • Drug abuse
  • Simple assault
  • Disorderly conduct
  • Criminal/malicious mischief
  • Liquor law violations
  • Robbery and burglary

Attorney Sean Spinello spends time talking to children and their parents about the facts of the case and ways to avoid future contact with the law. He also makes sure that the resolution takes into consideration not only the charge itself, but the particular circumstances and wishes of the child and family and implications of a disposition on the child’s future.