New Jersey Juvenile Arrests
Parsipanny Juvenile Defense Attorneys
Has your child been arrested in Morris County, New Jersey? Do not let juvenile charges ruin their future. A criminal record can haunt a young person for the rest of their life. If your child has been charged with a crime, he or she can benefit greatly from an experienced NJ Juvenile Justice attorney who will fight for them and ensure the best possible result. The Tormey Law Firm is an experienced criminal defense team that successfully represents clients in Roxbury, Mount Olive, Denville, Parsippany, Dover, Morristown, and throughout Morris County, New Jersey on a regular basis. Our firm’s founder, Travis J. Tormey, has defended numerous juvenile clients in criminal cases, ranging from criminal mischief and marijuana possession to sexual assault. He will use this invaluable experience as well as his long-standing relationships with local prosecutors and judges to secure the best possible outcome in your child’s juvenile case. Additionally, one of our firm’s partners, Christopher Perry was recognized as a SuperLawyer “Rising Star” in 2018 in the area of criminal defense and has successfully handled a number of juvenile criminal cases during his career.
If you need help with a juvenile case in Morris County, the juvenile defense lawyers at the Tormey Law Firm are here to help. Contact us day or night at 866-949-6948, or use our online contact form to schedule a free consultation at our offices in Morristown.
NJ Juvenile Arrests and Complaints for Delinquency
A juvenile is not technically arrested but rather is “taken into custody” for his or her own protection. A juvenile may be detained and charged with a complaint for delinquency stemming from any actions that would be violations of the law if committed by an adult. In order for a child to be taken into custody, probable cause to believe that an act of juvenile delinquency has taken place must exist. N.J.S.A. 2A:4A-23 defines “delinquency” as the commission of an act which, if committed by an adult, would constitute: (1) a crime; (2) a disorderly persons offense; or (3) a violation of any other penal statute, ordinance, or regulation. Accordingly, a child may be taken into custody when a police officer reasonably believes that the child has broken a criminal law or regulation.
A juvenile in New Jersey is anyone under the age of 18. Of course, a complaint for juvenile delinquency does not happen in every case. In certain cases, law enforcement officers may issue a warning or what is known as a “stationhouse adjustment.” This is essentially a mediation process with the juvenile, the juvenile’s parents or guardians, and the alleged victim (if any). Many times, the police officer will require the juvenile to complete community service, pay restitution for any damage caused, write a book report on a particular subject, or write an apology letter to the alleged victim. These tactics keep the charges out of the criminal justice system and are a nice way to give the juvenile a second chance without involving the prosecutor’s office or a Superior Court judge.
Once a juvenile complaint for delinquency is signed, the complaint must be screened by the Family Intake Division in the county in which the juvenile resides. This is an important distinction from adult court. In adult court, the county in which the alleged crime was committed has jurisdiction over the offense. Conversely, in juvenile court, the county in which the juvenile resides has jurisdiction. The Family Intake Division will determine if the matter should be transferred into a diversionary program, such as the juvenile conference committee, or if the matter should be scheduled for a hearing before a Superior Court judge.
You should always remember two (2) crucial points with regard to juvenile court:
- A juvenile is anyone under 18 years of age.
- The standard in juvenile court is “the best interests of the child.”
Contact a Morristown NJ Juvenile Lawyer Today
The Tormey Law Firm is a group of highly regarded trial lawyers with offices in Morristown, NJ. Recently, Mr. Tormey handled a juvenile marijuana possession case in Morristown, New Jersey. At Mr. Tormey’s request, the Family Intake Division diverted the case to a probation officer, who allowed the juvenile to complete community service and held the charges in abeyance (pending) for 90 days. When Mr. Tormey’s client completed the community service and remained arrest-free during the 90-day probationary period, the charges were dismissed.
The Tormey Law Firm has handled thousands of criminal cases just like this throughout New Jersey. We will use our legal experience to guide you and your child through the juvenile justice system, en route to securing the best possible outcome. Contact our Morristown office 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 866-949-6948 for a free consultation about your juvenile case.