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juvenile_delinquency_AOP

Long Island Family Lawyers Provide Legal Assistance for Juvenile Delinquents in New York

Staunch advocates defending the rights of children in Suffolk and Nassau Counties and throughout Long Island

A child between the ages of seven and 16 who commits an act that would represent a crime if committed by an adult is a juvenile delinquent under New York law and requires representation by an attorney who has experience within the family courts.

At the law firm of Jakubowski, Robertson, Maffei, Goldsmith & Tartaglia, LLP, our team of attorneys has extensive experience working within the family court system to protect the rights of children through a frightening process. And our experience on the prosecution and defense sides of adult criminal cases also provides us with unique insight when defending juvenile offenders.

What to expect during juvenile delinquency proceedings

The process involves numerous steps from arrest through trial. According to the New York City Family Court, a child may have to go through any of the following experiences:

  • Arrest: If family court is in session at the time of arrest, police may bring a child directly to family court. Otherwise, the child may receive an appearance ticket to appear in court on a future date or even spend the night in a detention center. This is the time parents or guardians should contact our firm for legal representation.
  • Probable cause hearing: In some cases, the court holds a hearing to determine if the child must be held in detention until the date of the fact-finding hearing.
  • Fact-finding hearing: In the next courtroom appearance, the child appears before a judge, who decides whether the child committed the acts in question. At this hearing, the presentment agency must prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt. The defense attorney can cross-examine prosecution witnesses and present additional witnesses and evidence in defense of the child.
  • Judicial finding: The judge can dismiss the petition if he or she finds the presentment agency did not prove the case. Otherwise, the judge schedules a dispositional hearing and orders the Probation Department to conduct an investigation of the child’s home and school circumstances.
  • Dispositional hearing: Based on the findings of the Probation Department, the judge determines the consequences to the child, which can range from supervision while living at home to placement in a group home or a secure facility, based on the best needs of the child.

Contact an experienced Long Island family law attorney at the moment of arrest for the full support your child needs

The attorneys at Jakubowski, Robertson, Maffei, Goldsmith & Tartaglia, LLP understand the stress and confusion you experience when your child faces charges. Classification as a juvenile delinquent can have a long-term effect on your child, so it is vital that you take immediate action to obtain comprehensive defense. To discuss your legal issues and learn how we can help you, contact us online or call us at 631-360-0400.