Friday, 15 January 2016

For The Best Juvenile Defense Attorney Bucks County Is Worth Checking Out

By Carol Moore


Millions of American youths are arrested each year for committing various crimes. However, they are prosecuted under a separate form of court system because they are deemed too young to make informed decisions. Juvenile justice system (JJS) is the court and law system under which juveniles are prosecuted. When on needs a well-qualified juvenile defense attorney Bucks County presents one of the places to consider making a trip to. Bucks County is home to several experienced lawyers who charge reasonable rates for legal services.

Rehabilitation of individuals is the primary aim of JJS as opposed to punishing. Young individuals are entitled to several benefits under JJS, which are not made available to adults by the law. For example, young offenders receive reduced penalty for offenses they commit. Also, they get committed to diversion programs in most cases as contrasted to serving time in jail. Depending on how serious the crime is, they may have their criminal records expunged upon attaining the age of 18.

Law that governs legal prosecution of juveniles is usually governed by the laws of the state in question. Most states have a juvenile code by which juveniles are prosecuted. That implies that all juveniles in that state fall under the laws enacted by the state to govern young people. However, there are cases where the court may waive or relinquish its jurisdiction. In such cases, the individual is transferred to an adult court.

Previously, the law did not have a provision that allowed juveniles the right to legal counsel of their own when they are undergoing prosecution. The change came with the ruling of the US Supreme Court. The Supreme Court mandated that the fourteenth Amendment gives every American the right to legal counsel when undergoing prosecution. With that ruling came additional tasks for lawyers that represent young people.

The attorneys work closely with the families of offenders and the offenders themselves. They aim at ensuring that full representation of the right of young offenders happens. Under most jurisdictions, juveniles are individuals who are under the age of 18 years. Their tender age makes them not old enough to be held responsible for criminal conduct.

Attorneys also work with the offenders to ensure that they get the necessary rehabilitation and attention from the law. Every young person has the right to hire a lawyer for legal representation. However, they also have the right to represent themselves in court. The only problem with that is that one is likely to lose the case given that they are going against a well experienced prosecutor.

These attorneys have specific knowledge and experience because they specialize in juvenile law. They understand processes and procedures that happen in courts that deal with young offenders. Such processes and procedures are different from what happens in adult courts.

The practitioner hired should have specific experience and knowledge in JJS. This is important because not all lawyers take such cases or have experience in that sect of the law. Relying on previous experience can help in making the right choice. Checking how the lawyer has been performing in the past can increasing the chances of hiring a good attorney.




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