Source: https://www.criminalattorneycolumbus.com/criminal-defense/juvenile-offenders/
Timestamp: 2019-04-21 01:04:04+00:00

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If your child has been charged with violating a law in Franklin County, Ohio, you may be concerned your child will go to jail or have a permanent criminal record. For most juvenile crimes, it is important to hire an attorney to help your child avoid serious repercussions, including a possible criminal record and lasting effects on your child’s educational and employment opportunities. Your child can also be placed in a secure detention facility, placed on probation, and charged as an adult for certain offenses.
Your child’s defense attorney will aggressively fight the criminal charges against your child and in some circumstances, attempt to have your child accepted to one of Ohio’s juvenile diversion programs if they would otherwise be eligible for placement in a detention facility. Detention facilities will typically group your child with troubled juveniles for an extended period of time. The diversion programs seek positive rehabilitation, and are designed to prevent recidivism, or committing repeat offenses.
Brian Joslyn of the Joslyn Law Firm will try to help your child avoid harsh punishments and severe repercussions for allegedly committing a juvenile offense in Columbus, Ohio. Brian Joslyn is experienced and knowledgeable with juvenile offenses in Ohio, and will make every effort to help your child achieve the best possible outcome for their particular situation. Call the Joslyn Law Firm at (614) 444-1900 for a consultation today.
A Juvenile Delinquent can be a child who violates the laws of Ohio or federal laws that would be an offense if committed by an adult, except a juvenile traffic offender according to Ohio Rev. Code § 2152.02.
A Serious Youthful Offender, under Ohio Rev. Code § 2152.02, is a juvenile who is required to have a mandatory serious youthful offender sentencing, which applies to certain acts and certain ages of the offender, but who is not transferred to an adult court for the offense.
An Unruly Child is defined under Ohio Rev. Code § 2151.022 as a child who is a habitual truant, does not submit to control of the child’s parents or guardian, behaves in way that will injure their health or the health of another, or violates the law.
Under Ohio Rev. Code § 2152.021, a complaint may be filed against a juvenile offender who appears to be a delinquent child, by any person having knowledge the child may be a delinquent child.
A child may also be taken into custody after they have committed a delinquent act by a law enforcement officer. After being taken into custody, a juvenile will be released to the child’s parents or guardian, or brought to a detention center if required. The child may not be held in custody for more than three or six hours depending on the offense before they are released or detained.
After the child has been taken into custody or arrested, a date for an adjudicatory hearing must be set within 72 hours. At this hearing, the court will determine if the juvenile has violated a law that would be an offense as adult, and if the juvenile is required to be held in a detention center. Juvenile offenders do not have the same constitutional protections as adults, and will not be allowed a jury at their hearing. They will only be allowed to present their case to the judge.
The juvenile is permitted to have an attorney and present evidence and witnesses in their defense.
Following the adjudicatory hearing, the juvenile judge will hold a dispositional hearing to determine the appropriate sentence for the juvenile offender.
Drug and alcohol use monitoring.
This program is a diversion program for first-time non-violent misdemeanor juvenile offenders. The program is an intervention program operated by the court and based in the community geared to providing alternative options to the state’s juvenile justice program for first-time offenders.
The Teen Court program utilizes teen offenders in the community to sentence teens who have admitted their involvement to the charges against them. In turn, the juvenile offenders who have previously been sentenced serve as jurors, attorneys and bailiffs in the cases of other juvenile offenders with adult supervision. This system holds the juveniles accountable and provides education about the juvenile justice system.
Those eligible for Teen Court are offenders who are between the ages of 11 and 17 when the offense occurred, have a charge filed against them, are a first-time offender, admits involvement to the offense, has consent from a guardian, and can commit to five weeks of participation.
Seal a Juvenile Record – According to Ohio Rev. Code § 2151.356, a juvenile record may be sealed if the juvenile’s case was resolved before the filing of a complaint, the juvenile has completed a diversion program, or the juvenile’s case was dismissed. A juvenile’s record may also be sealed if the juvenile applies for a sealing two years after the final disposition of the case. However, some juvenile violations are not permitted to be sealed.
Expunge a Juvenile Record – Under Ohio Rev. Code § 2151.358, all sealed juvenile records will be expunged five years after the court issues an order sealing the records, or on the 23rd birthday of the juvenile offender. Additionally, a juvenile may apply to have their record expunged; however, in some cases, a juvenile may not be entitled to have their record expunged.
Juvenile Victim / Offender Mediation Program – Prior to the filing of formal charges against the offender, this program is available to resolve the conflict between victim and the offender. The mediation is facilitated by a third-party who does not decide guilt or innocence. Mediation serves as a means to resolve the conflict and avoid the juvenile justice system. This program provides a means for the offender and victim to reach an agreement and have control in the outcome of the case.
Juvenile Offenders – This link is to Ohio’s laws regarding delinquent children and juvenile offenders, and outlines the penalties for juvenile offenses. The laws can be found in Title 21 of the Ohio Revised Code, and this particular section is also codified in chapter 2152 of the Ohio Rev. Code Ann. Additionally, the laws regarding Ohio’s juvenile courts can be found in chapter 2151 of the Ohio Rev.
Contact the Joslyn Law Firm today for a consultation about your juvenile’s crime in Columbus, Ohio. It is important to hire an experienced criminal defense attorney to help your child find possible defenses or mitigating factors, or other ways to avoid a permanent criminal record. Call (614) 444-1900 for a consultation about your child’s juvenile offense in Franklin County and surrounding counties, including Pickaway County, Madison County, Delaware County, Licking County and Fairfield County in Ohio.

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