Just like anyone else, when a child commits a crime they can be held responsible for their actions. In the state of Connecticut, a juvenile is defined as a person under the age of 18 when dealing with non-violent crimes. When dealing with these matters, it is important to note that it does not matter how old the individual is when they appear in court, only how old they were when they committed the crime. In order for a child to be placed in a detention center, a Superior Court judge must determine several facts. This includes whether or not there is probable cause to believe the child committed the acts alleged against them, there is no restrictive alternative available, and there is probably cause to believe the child poses a risk to public safety. Continue reading below and contact an experienced Connecticut criminal defense attorney to learn more.
What is a Juvenile Case?
To begin a juvenile case, a supervisor at the Juvenile matters Court where the individual appears will decide if the case should be handled as judicial or non-judicial processing. The differences are as follows:
- Non-Judicial Cases: This includes matters involving minor offenses and are dealt with by a probation officer instead of a judge. The officer may either dismiss the case, place the individual under non-judicial supervision, or recommend judicial handling.
- Judicial Cases: This includes situations of more serious offenses, cases involving those who have a prior delinquent conviction or history with the court, a case where they deny the charges, and when the probation officer believes judicial intervention is necessary.
In a judicial case, the juvenile prosecutor files a petition with the court to address the charges and identify the offender and their parents/guardian. Once this is done, a plea hearing will be scheduled, followed by a pretrial conference between the prosecutor and the counsel of the juvenile.
Can a Juvenile be Tried as an Adult?
It is important to know that, in some cases, a child can be transferred to adult court in the state of Connecticut. If a child at least 14 years old is charged with a Class A or B felony, they can be transferred to face the same charges that an adult would for the crime they committed. This may also be the case if a child was subject to a discretionary transfer in which they were charged with a Class C, Class D, or unclassified felony. This could result in the juvenile going through an adult trial if the court deems it as necessary.
Contact our Firm
Marc N. Needelman is an experienced attorney working throughout the state of Connecticut. If you need an attorney who is ready to fight for the financial compensation you deserve, please do not hesitate to contact us to set up a free initial consultation. Our firm deals with matters relating to real estate, personal injury, criminal defense, estate planning, and more.
