Juvenile Crimes

In Ohio, a child can be charged as an adult and will be vulnerable to the same punishments for violating the law. Young people can make a mistake that will have repercussions for years. It can result in a criminal record, education and employment difficulties, and create a cycle of illegal activity. Some common juvenile crimes include:

●Traffic offenses

●Drug/alcohol possession

●Violent/fighting offenses

●Stealing/theft offenses

●Vandalism/property offenses

So what happens? A child will be arrested and taken into custody for committing an offense. The juvenile will then be released to a parent or guardian after three to six hours depending on the offense. A date will be set within 72 hours for the adjudicatory hearing where the court will determine if the juvenile has violated a law and if they will be charged as an adult. For juveniles, they do not have the same constitutional protection as adults and are not allowed to have a trial in front of a jury. They are still permitted to have an attorney, present evidence, and call on witnesses. After the judicatory hearing, the judge will set a date for the dispositional hearing to determine the sentence for the juvenile.

At the dispositional hearing, some possible sentences and punishments include:

●Community service

●Suspension of driver’s license

●Placement in a detention facility

●Drug or alcohol treatment

●Medical or psychological treatment

●Probation, house arrest, and/or curfew

●Fines and court costs

These penalties can vary depending on the offense and if the child is charged as a juvenile or an adult. An experienced criminal defense attorney will petition to have the child’s case be kept in juvenile court and increasing the chance of less severe punishments. Our attorneys at DiCaudo, Pitchford & Yoder will find the best possible defenses to avoid a permanent criminal record and years of crippling repercussions.