In the state of Texas, as in other states, juveniles are prosecuted differently than adults. As far as the court system is concerned, a juvenile is considered to be any minor between the ages of 10 and 16. Any person 17 years of age or older will be tried as an adult, and will face the penalties associated with the adult criminal justice system. When juveniles are charged with the commission of a crime, they will be required to go before a juvenile court judge and will face the penalties imposed under that system. In cases where an extremely violent crime is committed by a minor between the ages of 14 and 16, he or she could be tried and penalized as an adult. Factors used to determine a minor's eligibility to stand trial as an adult include the severity of the crime, the minor's previous criminal record, what attempts have already been made at rehabilitation, the minor's age and level of sophistication, and whether or not the court believes rehabilitation efforts will be effective.
Juveniles are afforded many of the same rights as an adult. One primary difference is that when a juvenile is charged with a crime, he or she will generally be detained in a juvenile correctional facility or will be remanded to the custody of his or her parents until required to appear in court. The juvenile court system is also far more interested in rehabilitating minors who have been involved in criminal activities, rather than seeing them punished for their crimes. Penalties handed down in juvenile court will often involve rehabilitation programs or serving a term in a juvenile correctional facility.
If your child has been arrested for a juvenile crime in Fort Worth, Texas you need to contact The Law Office of Samuel R. Terry, P.C. at once. I understand how frightening it may be to have your child accused of committing a criminal act. I also know that the best chance your child has for getting his or her charges reduced or dismissed is to have an aggressive lawyer advocating on his or her behalf. I possess both a comprehensive understanding of juvenile law and I have an established record of success defending criminal cases. I have the skills and commitment you want defending your child's rights and fighting for their freedom, so do not hesitate to contact a Fort Worth criminal lawyer at my firm for assistance in a juvenile crime accusation.