Oakland County Juvenile Crimes Attorney

Juveniles can commit the same crimes as adults. However, most juvenile crimes are of a lesser severity.

Common juvenile crimes include:

• Vandalism: Damaging or defacing property and graffiti.
• Shoplifting and petty theft: Unlawfully taking items from stores or stealing small items.
• Joyriding: Taking a vehicle without the intention to deprive the owner of it permanently.
• Underage drinking: Possession of alcohol, which may include the use of a fake ID.
• Underage DUI: Driving while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
• Simple assault: Minor physical confrontations.
• Drug offenses: Possession or distribution of controlled substances.
• Trespassing: Entering property without permission.
• Disorderly conduct: This may include offensive language or behavior in public, loitering, or disturbing the peace.
• Internet crimes: This can include sexting (sending or receiving sexually explicit messages) or cyberbullying.

Understanding the Juvenile Justice System

The juvenile justice system in Michigan is designed to rehabilitate rather than punish, focusing on preventing future crimes.

The process typically includes the following steps:

• Intake: A juvenile court officer evaluates the case to decide if it should be dismissed, handled informally, or referred to juvenile court.
• Diversion: The case may be diverted from the formal court process, leading to programs or community service instead of a trial for minor offenses.
• Petition: If the case is severe, a petition is filed, leading to formal charges.
• Adjudication: This is similar to a trial but generally less formal, in which the juvenile court judge decides whether the juvenile is to be judged “responsible” (equivalent to “guilty” in adult court) for the offenses.
• Disposition: If the juvenile is found responsible, the judge determines the appropriate treatment, ranging from probation to placement in a juvenile detention facility.

Diversion programs allow eligible juveniles to avoid formal court proceedings by completing specific requirements, such as community service, educational programs, substance abuse treatment, or mental health counseling. Successful completion can lead to the dismissal of charges or an eventual expungement of their record.

Judges can place juveniles on probation, requiring them to follow specific rules and conditions, such as attending school regularly, adhering to a curfew, or meeting with a probation officer. Probation can also include counseling or community service.

Other alternatives include home detention under electronic monitoring, restitution to repay the victim for any damages or losses caused by the offense, working unpaid hours for charitable organizations or other community programs to instill a sense of responsibility and give back to the community, or family counseling to address the root causes of the juvenile’s behavior.

Our goal is to minimize the impact of these proceedings on the child’s future, seeking outcomes that provide for rehabilitation and growth. By focusing on education, therapy, and community involvement, we strive to guide juveniles to responsible citizenship, ensuring their mistakes do not define their futures.